Dear Robert,
I also found some other texts. see below.
And thank you for the yam explanation, I appreciate this very much. Also
thanks to Suan, thus, many possibilities to translate yam.

op 09-10-2002 11:39 schreef Robert Eddison op robedd@...:

> In ~Naa.namoli's "Path of Purification", section on mindfulness of
> breathing, there is the following:
>
> "Or alternatively, this mindfulness of breathing as a meditation subject -
> *which is foremost among the various meditation subjects of all Buddhas,
> [some] Pacceka Buddhas and [some] Buddhas' disciples* as a basis for
> attaining distinction and abiding in bliss here and now - is not easy to
> develop without leaving the neighbourhood of villages...noise being a thorn
> to jhaana."
> (Path of Purification VIII 155)
>
> It seems to me that the passage I have placed within asterisks is a
> mistranslation.
>
> The Pali phrase (in the Burmese 6th Council edition) is
> "kamma.t.thaanappabhede muddhabhuuta.m
> sabba~n~nubuddha-paccekabuddha-buddhasaavakaana.m", which should surely be
> rendered:
>
> "foremost among the various meditation subjects of omniscient Buddhas,
> paccekaabuddhas and Buddhas' disciples."
>
> That is to say, it is the foremost meditation subject not only for
> Sammaasambuddhas but for every type of Aryan.
>
> As far as I can see the word "some" in ~Naa.namoli's rendering is neither
> found nor even implied in the Pali. The word "all" (sabba) is found,
> but it qualifies a~n~nuu, "the knowing one", hence meaning "of the Buddhas
> who know all" not "of all Buddhas who know".

Nina: I checked with the Thai Co. to the patisambhiddha Magga: Co to English
p. 175, thirtytwo kinds of knowledge in mindfulness workers, Sato kari
~maana niddesa:
I find the same text as the Burmese edition, *some* does not occur.
sabba~n~nuu: omniscient, your tr. must be correct.
On the other hand I saw what Jim mentioned: the Mahaatika: *some*.

What kinds of persons could develop it? Here is another one: Vis. VIII, 211,
states:
<But this mindfulness of breathing is difficult, difficult to develop, a
field in which only the minds of Buddhas, Pacceka Buddhas, and Buddhas' sons
are at home. It is no trivial matter, nor can it be cultivated by trivial
[persons...>
Now here we have the word Buddhas' sons to consider. In this connection I
also have heard the word Mahaa-purisa.
Moreover, the anapanasati is basis for the development of distinctive
qualities (in Thia: khunvised): is this the four analytical knowledges? That
is only for superior persons, mahaa-purisas, and they do not exist in this
world, not now in this time.

Nina.