Derek,

>>From a note in Bhikkhu Bodhi's translation of the Sa.myutta Nikaaya,

DC> I believe your book refers to the Channa Sutta (SN 22.90, PTS iii.132
DC> ff), but the details you mention appear only in the commentary
DC> (Saratthappakaasinii, a.k.a. Sa.myutta Nikaaya-a.t.thakathaa).

Thank you very much for the reference. As much as I have understood
from the text of the sutta, Channa was told straight ahead about
anicca and anatta, and it's not some overwhelming or fearful theme
(nimitta).

However I find that I often concentrate on some aspect of Buddhist
path, such as getting final enlightenment, or contemplating
impermanence, and lose the whole picture.

There are some descriptions of the Path, such as MN 107
Ganaka-Moggalana, or DN 2 Samannaphala, however they lack
instructions.

So I consider composing a comprehensive picture of Buddhist training
on the example of Buddha's instructions to Rahula. There are plenty of
such suttas, such as one immediately following Channa sutta, and they
portray a wide range of instructions: from reflection on the results
of one's deeds and honesty, as in MN 61, and overcoming hindrances, as
in Snp 2-11, to advanced themes, as in MN 62, acquiring Dhamma
eye, as in MN 147, and final awakening, as in Thag 4.8.

Suttas described above are mostly translated in English, so it is
needed to arrange them in biographical order, translate other relevant
suttas, and we will get such a picture.

I already translated MN 61 from English to Russian, and soon will be
able to translate from Pali.

Dimitry