Original sentence: Although the Vajrayana claims to be as ancient and authentic as any other Buddhist school, it evidently grew up gradually in an environment with previously existing texts such as the mahasannipata and the ratnaketudharani.The basic position of Vajrayana is still the same as the early Buddhist position of not-self: there is nothing which is eternal.The goal of spiritual practice within the Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions is to become a Buddha by following the bodhisattva path, whereas the alternative goal for Theravada practice is the ending of suffering.Vajrayana as the sorcerer’s discipline (vidyadharasamvara).Vajrayana claims that its teachings were first expounded by the Buddha 16 years after his enlightenment, but Kitagawa has called this claim 'patently absurd'
Edited sentence: Although the Vajrayana claims to be as ancient and authentic as any other Buddhist school, it appears to have developed gradually in an environment with previously existing texts such as the mahasannipata and the ratnaketudharani.The basic position of Vajrayana is still the same as the early Buddhist position of not-self: nothing in the phenomenal world is eternal.The primary focus of spiritual practice within the Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions is to achieve Buddha consciousness by following the bodhisattva path, whereas the primary focus of Theravada practice is the ending of suffering.Vajrayana as the shaman’s discipline (vidyadharasamvara).Vajrayana claims that its teachings were first expounded by the Buddha 16 years after his enlightenment, but some scholars have called this claim 'patently absurd'