SekhaSekha wrote:I have already debunked this argument
In my understanding, I see little ground, if any, to dispute Dymtro. 'Sati' is rememberance, recollection or mental preoccupation. In respect to meditation, particularly Anapanasati, it is to keep the mind preoccupied with each in & out breathing & the other internal sense objects that come into awareness is association with in & out breathing, such as the physical body, feelings, the quality of the citta (mind) & Dhamma (truth). Or in respect to the framework Satipatthana, it is to keep the mind pre-occupied with body, feelings, mind & dhamma (rather than have the mind pre-occupied with other activities, such as sex, drugs and rock-&-roll).
However, when a practitioner is not meditating, sati also serves to keep the mind pre-occupied with whatever dhamma is relevent to the situation, such as right thought, right speech, right action, right livehood, etc. Sati even keeps the mind free from 'self-view' & attachment when engaging in internet Dhamma discussion.
In summary, my understanding is sati is to keep in the mind whatever tasks, goals, knowledges, etc, are required for dhamma practise. Even, if one is not formally practising dhamma, such as crossing a busy road, sati is keeping watch on the traffic (rather than keeping watch on in & out breathing or entering the 2nd jhana).
In my opinion, the Mahavihara commentaries correctly refer to sati as the state of non-fading; not-forgetting; maintaining in mind; as is correctly described in MN 117.