In Esoteric tradition, the guru lineage is very important. That is because each teacher transmits secret knowledge from his lineage to his students.
The secretive, magical rituals of Vajrayana primarily involve mantras (sacred incantations), mudras (hand gestures), and mandalas (religious diagrams).
According to Vajrayana doctrine, there were three turnings of the Wheel of the Dharma, represented by the three main branches of Buddhism.