Hi, Derek,

>> and Ven. Kondanna's Udana at
>> http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/khuddaka/udana/ud7-6.html

DC> There's also a (smallish) question mark over this one -- Ko.n.dañña
DC> is famous for his love of solitude, yet in the prose introduction to
DC> the udaana 7.6 it says that it took place while Ko.n.dañña was
DC> staying in Jeta's Grove, at the monastery donated by Anaathapi.n.dika.

Why not? After many years of solitary wandering, Ko.n.dañña returned
to Buddha and the community of monks.

Actually most bhikkhus, like Kondañña, traveled, and sometimes Buddha
also traveled alone, so there was no fixed 'core' group. Bhikkhus used
to gather on Vassa (rains retreat), to hear Buddha, as described in
Satipatthana sutta.

And it seems to me that 'no-view' approach of A.t.thaka Vagga agrees very
well with 'right view' as the factor of the Path. You can read, for
example, Di.t.thi sutta
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/anguttara/an10-93.html

where Anathapindika, discerning abstract fixed beliefs as stressful,
proposes experiantial present-moment 'vision'. In fact 'di.t.thi' can
be interpreted as either 'belief' or 'vision'.

One can't contemplate whether cosmos is eternal or not. However stress
and release from it is in every moment.

Mettacittena,
Dimitry