Hi, Derek,

DC> According to Bhikkhu Bodhi's report on the commentary, Channa's agitation
DC> and annihilationist views were due to his not having done the preliminary
DC> steps in the right order.

Thank you once again for the details. Does Bhikkhu Bodhi suggest the
right order?

DC> MN 107 seems to give precise instructions -- no?

Not too detailed.

DC> For those who don't have easy access to the texts, I'll give a summary of
DC> the sequential method the Buddha teaches in MN 107.

By the way, it is available at
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/majjhima/mn107.html
Similar sequence is described at DN 1-13
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/digha/dn2.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/digha/dn11.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/digha/dn12.html

DC> Then he is to practice mindfulness while walking, eating, etc. -- in other
DC> words, everyday practice, and NOT sit-down mindfulness practice of the
DC> Satipa.t.thaana Sutta.

There is much to be discussed about the differences and similarities
between popular modern approaches and approaches described in the Tipitaka.

DC> Is that what you want to do -- take MN 107 as a skeleton, and then flesh out
DC> the details from other sutta-s?

I have done something like this on 'Dhamma Wheel' Russian-language
Theravada site http://users.iptelecom.net.ua/~koleso/dharma/ .
However such approach is a bit artificial and involves the whole
Tipitaka.

The live thread of gradual Rahula's training has a natural integrity,
and Buddha's advices to his son are amazingly clear and deep. Thus the
whole Rahula's path is very inspirational and inviting to walk it out.

Other descriptions of the path can serve to determine the original
sequence of Buddha's advices to Rahula, and arrange them in the proper
order. Though commentaries also have much to say about the age of
Rahula when he was given particular advice. For example, I have read
that MN 61 Ambalatthikarahulovada Sutta
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/majjhima/mn61.html
was given to Rahula when he was seven years old.

'Oral revelation' is also included in this sequence at MN 147
Cuularaahulovaada sutta.m with a translation at
http://www.metta.lk/tipitaka/2Sutta-Pitaka/2Majjhima-Nikaya/Majjhima3/147-cularahulovada-e.htm

Such a picture of a trodden path would require a moderate amount of
work to compose it and would serve as an inspiring real-life example.

Dimitry