Following introductory remarks and an overview of the syllabus for the course, this first lecture covers the foundations of Buddhist practice as grounded in Atiśa's explanation of the "Three Types of Beings."Course

Class #2 of Jeffrey Hopkins's "Introduction to Tantra Seminar" (Sept. 5, 1995). The lecture continues the discussion of Atiśa's explanation of the "Three Types of Beings," and expands on the foundations of Buddhist practice as described in Tsong-kha-pa's Three Principal Aspects of the Path, and correlations to the Consequence School’s presentation of "Grounds and Paths" (sa lam).

Class #3 of Jeffrey Hopkins's "Introduction to Tantra Seminar" (Sept. 12, 1995). The lecture discusses the status of a Foe Destroyer (dgra bcom pa; arhat) entering the Bodhisattva path, the Sūtra mode of meditation on emptiness, the generation of calm abiding (zhi gnas; śamatha) and special insight (lhag mthong; vipaśyanā), and reasonings in the Middle Way School (dbu ma; madhyamaka).

Class #4 of Jeffrey Hopkins's "Introduction to Tantra Seminar" (Sept. 14, 1995). Following a student question about the Paṇ-chen Lama, the lecture continues the discussion of the Sūtra mode of meditation on emptiness and reasonings in the Middle Way School (dbu ma; madhyamaka), and discusses Candrakirti's Sevenfold Reasoning at length.

Class #5 of Jeffrey Hopkins's "Introduction to Tantra Seminar" (Sept. 19, 1995). The lecture continues the discussion of the Sutra Mode of Meditation on Emptiness, moving on to the subjects of a Space-like Meditative Equipoise, as well as inference, direct perception, and the five types of duality.

Class #6 of Jeffrey Hopkins's "Introduction to Tantra Seminar" (Sept. 21, 1995). The lecture discusses the four classes of Tantras, the difference between Sutra and Tantra, and within tantra, the subjects of "divine pride" and "deity yoga."

Class #7 of Jeffrey Hopkins's "Introduction to Tantra Seminar" (Sept. 26, 1995). The lecture discusses the Six Deities (Ultimate, Sound, Letter, Form, Seal, and Sign), and the idea of Paradigm Change with regard to sutra and tantra.

Class #8 of Jeffrey Hopkins's "Introduction to Tantra Seminar" (Sept. 28, 1995). The lecture continues the discussion begun at the end of the previous class of Jung's theory of Ego Inflation in relation to tantric practice and deity yoga.

Class #9 of Jeffrey Hopkins's "Introduction to Tantra Seminar" (Oct. 3, 1995). The lecture discusses the first of the two stages of Action Tantra: Concentration With Repetition. Included in the discussion are the topics of meditation on the deity in front, prāṇāyāma, and the generation of calm abiding in a tantric context.

Class #10 of Jeffrey Hopkins's "Introduction to Tantra Seminar" (Oct. 12, 1995). The lecture discusses the Meditative Stabilization of Exalted Speech, Varabodhi's system, and the Five Paths and Ten Grounds in tantra.

Class #11 of Jeffrey Hopkins's "Introduction to Tantra Seminar" (Oct. 17, 1995). The lecture continues the discussion of the Five Paths and Ten Grounds in Action Tantra, and presents more on the difference between sutra and tantra.

Class #12 of Jeffrey Hopkins's "Introduction to Tantra Seminar" (Oct. 19, 1995). The lecture covers a review of points from previous discussions and presents an introduction to the Sutra system as distinct from Tantra.

Class #13 of Jeffrey Hopkins's "Introduction to Tantra Seminar" (Oct. 24, 1995). The lecture discusses the difference between wisdom and method, alternate meanings of the word "method", yoga with and without signs, bodies ofthe Buddha, and the Indian tantric commentator Tripitakamala.

Class #14 of Jeffrey Hopkins's "Introduction to Tantra Seminar" (Oct. 26, 1995). The lecture discusses the causes of the Form Body of a Buddha in relation to sutra and tantra, and the difference between Hinayana and Mahayana (31 Quintessential Points).

Class #15 of Jeffrey Hopkins's "Introduction to Tantra Seminar" (Oct. 31, 1995). The lecture discusses the differences between Arhats and Pratyekabuddhas, early scholastic notions of Buddhism, the notion of lineage, and more on deity yoga and the causes of a Buddha's Form Body.

Class #16 of Jeffrey Hopkins's "Introduction to Tantra Seminar" (Nov. 2, 1995). The lecture discusses Long-chen-pa's (klong chen pa, 1308-1364) presentation of secret mantra (i.e. tantra), and his interpretation of Tripiṭakamāla's points of distinction between sūtra and tantra, as well as points of contrast with Ge-luk-pa exegesis.

Class #17 of Jeffrey Hopkins's "Introduction to Tantra Seminar" (Nov. 7, 1995). The lecture begins with a discussion of the proposed distinction between clerical and "shamanic" Buddhism in Tibet. The lecture then resumes the discussion of Long-chen-pa's ideas on the distinction between sutra and tantra, touching on the subjects of the Nying-ma Nine Vehicle System, the concept of the Dharmadhatu, etc.

Class #18 of Jeffrey Hopkins's "Introduction to Tantra Seminar" (Nov. 9, 1995). The lecture begins with a discussion of karma and its relationship to ignorance and ethics. The lecture covers a range of related topics: the Form Body of a Buddha in relation to tantric practice, the views of Stag-tshang Shes-rab-rin-chen (b. 1405-1477), the distinction between "Old" and "New" translations, Buddha-nature (tathāgatagarbha), the role of conceptuality, etc.

Class #19 of Jeffrey Hopkins's "Introduction to Tantra Seminar" (Nov. 14, 1995). The lecture covers the discussion of Bu-ston's presentation of the division of the four tantra sets in light of Tsong-kha-pa's critique, and other attempts to categorize the tantras. Additional topics discussed are the suitable disciples of practicing Highest Yoga Tantra (anuttarayoga-tantra) and the levels of mind and dream yoga.

Class #20 of Jeffrey Hopkins's "Introduction to Tantra Seminar" (Nov. 16, 1995). The lecture continues the discussion of the division of the four tantra sets, as well as the most subtle mind-of-clear-light in practicing Highest Yoga Tantra (anuttarayoga-tantra), dream yoga, sexual yoga, etc. This is followed by a discussion of the experience of the clear light and the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

The lecture continues the discussion of the use of the afflictions (desire, hatred, and ignorance) on the path. The continued discussion of the union of the old and new translation schools. The topic of the view of emptiness in Dzok-chen (rdzogs chen) in relation to "basic mind" (rig pa) is also covered, specifically in terms of the distinction between the view of the object versus the view of the subject. This is followed by a discussion of concordant ultimates (don dam dang mthun pa).

The lecture begins with a discussion of hierarchies in presentations of Buddhist theory and practice. This is followed by the continuing discussion of the union of the old and new translation schools, referring to the five stages (pañcakrama; rim lnga) of Highest Yoga Tantra (anuttarayoga-tantra).

The lecture concludes the course and the discussion of the union of the old and new translation schools, looking at the specific topics of the nature of Buddha-qualities and the foundational levels of mind in Nyingma and Geluk, the channel-wheel (cakra) system in tantra, the perception of a Buddha, meditation on the absence of inherent existence, and ways of looking at different paths.