Parimukhaṁ - What does it mean in MN119?

[Raftafarian]

I consider the following to be a question, but I think it is most likely going to be a discussion because I don’t know if anyone really knows the answer to the question.

It’s when a mendicant—gone to a wilderness, or to the root of a tree, or to an empty hut—sits down cross-legged, sets their body straight, and establishes mindfulness in front of them.
Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu araññagato vā rukkhamūlagato vā suññāgāragato vā nisīdati pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā.
MN 119

parimukhaṁ has been translated to “in front of” in this quote. I have no doubt that this is what it literally means. I believe, however, that it may have been intended to be used figuratively here.

I am wondering if it was intended to convey something more in line with “in the forefront” (as the priority) and would like to know if the Pali could be interpreted this way. It does actually seem to be closer to how the instruction is interpreted in practice, at least that is what I do when meditating. In any event, I would like to hear from others.

It’s when a mendicant—gone to a wilderness, or to the root of a tree, or to an empty hut—sits down cross-legged, sets their body straight, and establishes mindfulness in the forefront.
Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu araññagato vā rukkhamūlagato vā suññāgāragato vā nisīdati pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā.
MN 119

[Danny]

Bhante just wrote an essay about it:

Rethinking parimukha

Some time ago we discussed the tricky term parimukha/pratimukha, to inconclusive results. I am just reviewing the evidence and gathering my thoughts. First, we have two distinct forms: parimukha in the Pali and pratimukha in the Sanskrit. (The Chinese translations do not seem to add any clarity, and I haven’t examined the Tibetan.) Parimukha is famously defined in late Pali canonical texts Vibhanga (Vb 12:43.4) and Patisambhidāmagga (Ps 1.3:47.11) as: nāsikagge vā mukhanimitte vā at the nos…

And there has been an earlier discussion already:

Preparing for meditation - parimukha?

In the standard formula in which the meditator sits down, before the Jhanas, we have: nisīdati… paṇidhāya parimukhaṃ satiṃ upaṭṭhapetvā which literally means 'he sits down and aspires to create memory around his mouth’ I know - sati is supposed to be ‘mindfulness’, parimukha ‘in front of him’ etc. I try and see if there is a legitimate literal interpretation. So my question - is it possible that this passage means that he sits down and recites a portion of the teaching concerning his meditati…

[Raftafarian]

Thanks. It looks like at least one person read it similarly to how I did.