Vajrayana is nothing more than Mahayana Buddhism with some archetypal psychology added to the mix - most of which the lay practitioner will rarely fully practice or realize.
Mahayana and Theravada schools differ in approach but not in outcome.
The Mayahana Buddhist says that in order to achieve enlightenment for oneself, one must love others. By practicing Bodhicitta (open heart) one's heart is then opened.
The Theravada Buddhist says that in order to love others, one must have achieved enlightenment first for oneself. By becoming as the Buddha became, then and only then is the heart opened so that it is fully open towards other.
Both aspire towards enlightenment for oneself and for everyone. They simply approach it from different sides of the same coin. One, then, does not have to make the false choice that you are presenting here. One can simply find the school and approach that works best and then ultimately achieve the same two goals - both/and, not either/or. 
Edit history
Recommendations
0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):
= new reply since forum marked as read