Hi @Embedded_novice
1. The controller modes are defined in the AUTOSAR specification, thus described in the FlexCAN MCAL driver user manual found under the following path: "C:\NXP\S32DS.3.X.X\S32DS\software\PlatformSDK_S32K3\RTD\Can_43_FLEXCAN\doc\RTD_CAN_43_FLEXCAN_UM.pdf"

2. By AUTOSAR standards, yes, it is mandatory. The processing logic depends on the driver implementation. For example, in the FlexCAN driver, functions called are FlexCAN_Ip_SetStartMode() and FlexCAN_Ip_SetStopMode(), both of which enable and disable the module, respectively.
AUTOSAR specification also provides a transition diagram in their CAN specification document:

Best regards,
Julián