First,as a learner and a shallow practitioner ,I hope to clear some misunderstanding about the practice of Vajrayana Buddhism
Esoteric Buddhism began from our Compassionate Buddha Sakyamuni historically
It is written that After His Parinirvana , Vajrapani Bodhisattva and Many Dakini and Vajra gather at Present-day Pakistan to convene the passing down of Vajrayana Scripture ,it was passed down to many lineage master and finally the 3 master of True Word School (Vajrabodhi , Fearlessness and another person i cant remember bring the Vairocana Sutra (or the Great Sun Sutra) to Tang Dynasty China
The Point of meditation with a consort deity is not totally general in Vajrayana Buddhism ,it is only part of a practice.
Esoteric Buddhism is separated into the Eastern Esoteric (flourished now in Koyasan Lineage of Japan ) and Tibetan Buddhism
The Basic of Esoteric is still to seek liberation by entering the practice of Bodhisattva
The teaching is classified under reveal and the tantric .The nature of Tantric is for the Lineage Master Oral transmission and cannot be reveal due to its inconceivable powers to make one reduced the number of "wrong path" taken
I hope this would make a clear understanding on Vajrayana Buddhism.
How to differentiate it as a authentic School of Esoteric ?
1.Does it teaches the 4 Dharma Seal?
2.Does it have a proper Lineage tracing to Buddha Sakyamuni?
3.Is there practice and chanting more directed to benefits other spiritual and not wealth?
4.Is the Esoteric School recognised by the Office of the Tibetan government-in-exile?