Vajrayana

Often translated as the diamond or thunderbolt vehicle, Vajrayana is a form of Mahayana Buddhism that employs esoteric methods to accelerate the path to awakening. It builds upon Mahayana philosophy and ethics while emphasizing additional practices such as devotion to the guru, mantra recitation, tantric initiation, ritual, and deity yoga. Emerging in India around the 6th century, Vajrayana later became foundational to Tibetan Buddhism and also influenced Buddhist traditions in East Asia.