Meanings of sati undebunkable once and for all

[Alex123]

There comes a time when the mind notices that the object was lost within a second. Then, within a fraction of second. And eventually, the mind remains fixed on the object, so there is no need to 'remember' to refocus on it.

One needs to remember to keep the mind fixed on subject of meditation and remember to bring it back when the mind wanders off. When the mind wondered off, it forgot what it should have remembered. So sati includes remembrance.

[Jess]

Samma sati and all "Samma" qualities are those that appear at the moment of noble path - one of the four enlightenments. That's why Samma sati as quoted from the canon above doesn't describe what sati is as much as say it is the sati that is there when defilement are extinguished.
This is not a sati that we practice - it is a sati that arises automatically from the merits and momentum of our correct practice.
As to what sati itself is, it is a bit different with the mind vs the body. For body, it is just straight knowing or seeing the present phenomenon. Regarding mind, it is neither the focus nor the steering back to focus. It is the recollection. Releasing or awakening to what the mind has just done, whether it has arisen a defilement, got lost in thought or moved in to refocus. It is not a doing, but an anupassana, a seeing after the fact, or, a recalling but not a thought recall. A recollection of what the mind just did. Visit my masters site. Source www.dhamma.com/en