DS> "Most
DS> people understand Parimukham as around the mouth or tip of the nose, But in
DS> actual fact it's metaphorical meaning is 'keeping Sati in front of the
DS> chest" which in fact points to always bringing mindfulness to forefront of
DS> Bhavana"
With my greatest respect for Dhamma teachers and for those who
cultivate mindfulness, I would still like to ask what is the textual
support for such interpretation. There are many passages which
encourage cultivating mindfulness, however there is barely any support
for 'in the front (of chest)' translation.
The only such support I've found is the Buddhaghosa commentary
(Culavagga-Atthakatha 6.1211) 'Parimukhanti ure lomasa.mhara.na.m'
(cutting off the hair on the breast) to the passage (Culavagga 2.134
5.Khuddakavatthuuni)
Na, bhikkhave, massu kappaapetabba.m pe na massu
va.d.dhaapetabba.m na golomika.m kaaraapetabba.m na caturassaka.m
kaaraapetabba.m na parimukha.m kaaraapetabba.m na a.d.dhaduka.m
kaaraapetabba.m na daa.thikaa .thapetabbaa na sambaadhe loma.m
sa.mharaapetabba.m".
In approximate translation:
(Bhikkhu, the beard should not be trimmed, the beard should not be
enlarged, should not be cut into a ball- or cluster-shape, should
not be cut into quadrangular shape, should not be cut around the
mouth, should not be cut in 'half-dyad', should not be arranged in
whiskers, the hair should not be made grown at pudendum.)
Sorry, but there seem to be occasional inexact places in highly
venerable Buddhaghosa's commentary, Vibhanga's and Patisambhidamagga's
interpretation 'around the mouth' is far more credible, and quite fits
here.
Probably the quoting of Ven. Buddhaghosa's commentary in PED made many
people accept 'breast' interpretetion.