<p>The instruction is: sati-parimukkham, or parimukkham-sati.<br />
This means: mind-around-mouth<br />
It also means: mind-around-face<br />
It also means: mind around the front<br />
It also means: mind around the interface [between the personal and the external]<br />
It also has been interpreted as meaning: mind the business at which you are about (that is minding).</p>

<p>This instruction is found in cases where a formula for meditation is being set forth, not exclusive to minding the in and out breaths.</p>

<p>There is no instruction that reads: 'focus where the breath is felt' or 'at the nose' or at any specific place. Try to focus on the point where the breath passes the nostrils you will quickly see that you cannot find that place. It moves around at light-speed!</p>

<p>That is why the instruction reads "around" (pari). The point is the focus, not the locus. This is also important as a preventive measure: our job here is not to maintain a state of concentration on any object. We are trying to develop concentration (or better, focus) as a skill with a tool to be used in understanding other things. You are not going to Nibbana with your mind focused on your nose!</p>

<p>Follow the instructions without trying to pick it apart and you will see the advantages of minding around the mouth as a starting point, minding the face as a matter of minding the sense-reactions, minding the front as minding the whole body, minding the interface as minding the inter-relations of the body and the external world, and minding your business as keeping you focused on the task. Round and round, up and down, back and forth. A spectrum.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-07T16:31:14.897Z
2020-05-07T16:31:14.897Z
Mike Olds
<p>A correct translation of agama passage EA 17.1 is "pervade the entire body" -- here is the excerpt from my translation at
<a href="http://lucid24.org/agama/ea/ea17/ea17-01/index.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://lucid24.org/agama/ea/ea17/ea17-01/index.html</a></p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/02Hyl.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/02Hyl.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>From the agama school, the dhayna samadhi sutra is an excellent representation of how most of the Agama schools understand breath meditation -- i.e. that awareness pervades the entire anatomical physical body) -- in radical contrast to Visuddhimagga's outlier (wrong) view that one should focus only at the nostrils and ignore the entire physical body. </p>

<p>Excerpt from
<a href="http://lucid24.org/sted/16aps/index.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://lucid24.org/sted/16aps/index.html</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>409 CE Dhyāna Samādhi Sutra  </p>
  
  <p>This is not from the EBT period, but is fully EBT compliant in describing step 3 of 16aps and capturing what is so peaceful, sublime, ambrosia, a brahma dwelling, and the Buddha’s preferred meditation of choice on his retreats.<br>
  Dhyāna Samādhi Sutra (corresponds with Ānāpānā step 3, sabba kāya patisamvedi)
  Dhyāna Samādhi Sutra (chinese to english trans. By Dr. William Chu)  </p>
  
  <p>T15n0614_p0275b25(08)║念諸息遍身。亦念息出入。<br>
  “One is mindfully aware of various breaths suffusing the whole body, as one attends to the exhalation and inhalation of the breath.  </p>
  
  <p>T15n0614_p0275b26(05)║悉觀身中諸出息入息。<br>
  As one pervasively observes the various kinds of inhalation and exhalation inside the body,  </p>
  
  <p>T15n0614_p0275b27(14)║覺知遍至身中乃至足指遍諸毛孔如水入沙。<br>
  one becomes aware and comprehends what is happening throughout the body, up to and including one’s toes and pores—[awareness] pervades as if water seeps into sands.  </p>
  
  <p>T15n0614_p0275b28(13)║息出覺知從足至髮遍諸毛孔亦如水入沙。譬如[夢-夕+棐]囊入出皆滿。<br>
  In the same way, with [each] out-breath, awareness and understanding pervade—from the toes to the hairs, permeating all the pores—as if water seeps into sands. Just like a sack that is completely filled from its bottom to its opening,  </p>
  
  <p>T15n0614_p0275b29(05)║口鼻風入出亦爾。觀身周遍見風行處。<br>
  so too should one experience the body being saturated this way with [each] in-breath coming in from mouth [and/or] nose.  </p>
  
  <p>T15n0614_p0275c01(07)║如藕根孔亦如魚網。復心非獨口鼻觀息入出。<br>
  One should perceive that throughout the body, where ‘wind’ traverses, it is as if it traverses through the holes of a lotus root; it is as if it traverses through the eyes of a fish net.  </p>
  
  <p>T15n0614_p0275c02(06)║一切毛孔及九孔中。亦見息入息出。<br>
  Furthermore, one should not just perceive the breath as going in and out of one’s mouth [and/or] nose; one should also see that the breath comes in and out from all the pores and from the nine orifices of the body.  </p>
  
  <p>T15n0614_p0275c03(09)║是故知息遍諸身<br>
  For this reason, one should understand that the breath pervades throughout the body."</p>
</blockquote>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/ST5Al.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/ST5Al.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>In SN 54, the Anapana Samyutta, prior to this sutta in the first 9 suttas, the 16 steps of 16 APS have not been associated with the 4 tetrads of 4sp (satipatthana, right mindfulness). So the first thing to understand about this context is that the Buddha is trying to explain how the breath is related to each of the 4 tetrads. One might question, how is the breath related to the anatomical body (kāya)? So the Buddha explains that the breath is also a type of body. One might question, how is vedana (feeling) a breath? And the Buddha explains the breath is a certain type of feeling. One might question how is the breath related to the tetrad of citta-anupassana, and so on. So in saying that the breath is one type of body, the context here is trying to justify how the breath ties in to 4sp (satipatthana) practice in general, how it ties in to kāya anupassana (body contemplation). He’s not trying to redefine the default definition of body understood as physical.
The second thing to notice is that the Buddha is saying the breath is a type of kāya (body), <strong><em>is ONE type of body</em></strong>, among the already established understanding of body as being composed of 4 elements. He is not overriding the definition of kāya here, <strong><em>he is not saying breath is the only type of body, and he certainly didn’t say in this context breath is the whole body and the anatomical body should be discarded from meditative awareness</em></strong>.
The third thing to notice, even if we want to practice 16 APS taking the breath to be the only part of the physical body that we’re contemplating, ignoring the remaining 3 of the 4 elements, this body of breath has shape, dimension, occupying the same physical space as our anatomical body.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/o4yHP.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/o4yHP.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>detailed comprehensive analysis on term 'pari mukha'
<a href="http://lucid24.org/tped/p/parimukha/book/index.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://lucid24.org/tped/p/parimukha/book/index.html</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-10T16:36:49.587Z
@116PУC Perhaps there's also empirical evidence, and whether it accords with preconceived doctrine i.e. what people might already/previously know to be true.
ChrisW
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-11T16:12:12.383Z
see reedited post for response to comment. Vism. interpretation of step 3 of 16 steps meditation is completely unfounded. There really shouldn't be a controversy. But like anything, buddhism is political. the ruling political party dictates the 'correct' interpretation, when careful examination of evidence is incontrovertibly clear their interpretation is wrong.
frankk
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-10T15:15:13.123Z
2020-05-11T16:16:05.040Z
2020-05-11T16:16:05.040Z
frankk
<p>Just breathe.  You are overthinking it too much.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-10T16:38:45.387Z
2020-05-10T16:38:45.387Z
ThirdPrize
<p>I don't want to answer the down voting answers. But If you can read the below quote's from the cannon, you may re-think about what you are doing as a meditation with external world instead of the dependent core-arising.</p>

<p>Below is about the uninstructed run-of-the-mill person from <a href="https://zugangzureinsicht.org/html/tipitaka/sn/sn12/sn12.061.than_en.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Assutava Sutta</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Monks, an uninstructed run-of-the-mill person might grow disenchanted
  with this body composed of the four great elements, might grow
  dispassionate toward it, might gain release from it. Why is that?
  Because the growth &amp; decline, the taking up &amp; putting down of this
  body composed of the four great elements are apparent. Thus the
  uninstructed run-of-the-mill person might grow disenchanted, might
  grow dispassionate, might gain release there.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>And below is about instructed disciple of the noble ones from same <a href="https://zugangzureinsicht.org/html/tipitaka/sn/sn12/sn12.061.than_en.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Assutava Sutta</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>"The instructed disciple of the noble ones, [however,] attends
  carefully &amp; appropriately right there at the dependent co-arising</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-07T15:50:56.320Z
2020-05-07T15:50:56.320Z
Isuru
<p>Focus on where you feel the in and out breath. The location varies with each individual so there is no 1 place to focus on.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-07T15:31:47.940Z
2020-05-07T15:31:47.940Z
Ravindu Dissanayake
<p>In <a href="https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/breathmed.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this guide</a>, Thanissaro Bhikkhu wrote that you can focus on any place where the breath can be sensed, whether it is the nose, chest, abdomen or any other place:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Only when you have cleared the mind in this way, and set outside
  matters aside, are you ready to focus on the breath. Bring your
  attention to the sensation of breathing. Breathe in long and out long
  for a couple of times, <strong>focusing on any spot in the body where the
  breathing is easy to notice, and your mind feels comfortable focusing.
  This could be at the nose, at the chest, at the abdomen, or any spot
  at all</strong>. Stay with that spot, noticing how it feels as you breathe in
  and out. Don't force the breath, or bear down too heavily with your
  focus. Let the breath flow naturally, and simply keep track of how it
  feels. Savor it, as if it were an exquisite sensation you wanted to
  prolong. If your mind wanders off, simply bring it back. Don't get
  discouraged. If it wanders 100 times, bring it back 100 times. Show it
  that you mean business, and eventually it will listen to you.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>According to <a href="https://www.sirimangalo.org/text/how-to-meditate/chapter-two-sitting-meditation/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Chapter 2 "Sitting Meditation"</a> of the book "<a href="https://www.sirimangalo.org/text/how-to-meditate/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">How To Meditate</a>" by Yuttadhammo Bhikkhu, you can also try to observe movements of the abdomen, instead of nasal sensations:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The purpose of formal meditation is to limit our experience to the
  fewest number of objects in order to allow for easy observation
  without becoming overwhelmed or distracted. When sitting still, the
  whole body is tranquil and the only movement is when the breath enters
  and leaves the body. <strong>When the breath enters the body, there should be
  a rising motion in the abdomen. When the breath leaves the body, there
  should likewise be a falling motion. If the movement is not readily
  apparent, you can put your hand on your abdomen until it becomes
  clear.</strong></p>
  
  <p>If it is difficult to perceive the motion of the abdomen even with
  your hand, you can try lying down on your back until you are able to
  perceive it. Difficulty in finding the rising and falling motion of
  the abdomen when sitting is generally due to mental tension and
  stress; if one is patient and persistent in the practice, one’s mind
  and body will begin to relax until one is able to breathe as naturally
  sitting up as when lying down.</p>
  
  <p>The most important thing to remember is that we are trying to observe
  the breath in its natural state, rather than forcing or controlling it
  in any way. In the beginning, the breath may be shallow or
  uncomfortable, but once the mind begins to let go and stops trying to
  control the breath, the rise and fall of the abdomen will become more
  clear and allow for comfortable observation.</p>
  
  <p>It is this rising and falling motion that we will use as our first
  object of meditation. Once we are able to observe the motion of the
  abdomen without difficulty, it will serve as a default object of
  meditation for us to return to at any time.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-11T16:09:34.180Z
Thk u all respected sir and masters for giving me guidance .I could feel the rise and fall of abdomen with and without placing hands in sitting position.Once again I thk u all If it is possible for you to send a video of watching breath at abdomen.
Sanjay Mehta
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-08T05:01:05.687Z
2020-05-08T05:01:05.687Z
ruben2020
<p>My question is that where do I focus ? The outer nose or outer nose with upper lip </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-08T09:23:01.617Z
the context for your question is way too vague to give any kind of reasonable answer without clarification. What meditation are you practicing, and what style/tradition/lineage of that meditation are you trying to accomplish?
frankk
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-11T16:04:40.260Z
I practice goenkas retreat
Sanjay Mehta
<meditation>
Where do I focus ? On the outer nose or outer nose with upper lip?
# Where do I focus ? On the outer nose or outer nose with upper lip?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-05-07)

My question is that where do I focus ? The outer nose or outer nose with upper lip

**Tags:** meditation

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: the context for your question is way too vague to give any kind of reasonable answer without clarification. What meditation are you practicing, and what style/tradition/lineage of that meditation are you trying to accomplish?  
> **username_0**: I practice goenkas retreat  

---

## 6 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2020-05-07. Score: 1

The instruction is: sati-parimukkham, or parimukkham-sati.  
This means: mind-around-mouth  
It also means: mind-around-face  
It also means: mind around the front  
It also means: mind around the interface [between the personal and the external]  
It also has been interpreted as meaning: mind the business at which you are about (that is minding).

This instruction is found in cases where a formula for meditation is being set forth, not exclusive to minding the in and out breaths.

There is no instruction that reads: 'focus where the breath is felt' or 'at the nose' or at any specific place. Try to focus on the point where the breath passes the nostrils you will quickly see that you cannot find that place. It moves around at light-speed!

That is why the instruction reads "around" (pari). The point is the focus, not the locus. This is also important as a preventive measure: our job here is not to maintain a state of concentration on any object. We are trying to develop concentration (or better, focus) as a skill with a tool to be used in understanding other things. You are not going to Nibbana with your mind focused on your nose!

Follow the instructions without trying to pick it apart and you will see the advantages of minding around the mouth as a starting point, minding the face as a matter of minding the sense-reactions, minding the front as minding the whole body, minding the interface as minding the inter-relations of the body and the external world, and minding your business as keeping you focused on the task. Round and round, up and down, back and forth. A spectrum.


---

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-05-10. Score: 1

A correct translation of agama passage EA 17.1 is "pervade the entire body" -- here is the excerpt from my translation at
<http://lucid24.org/agama/ea/ea17/ea17-01/index.html>

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/02Hyl.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/02Hyl.png)

From the agama school, the dhayna samadhi sutra is an excellent representation of how most of the Agama schools understand breath meditation -- i.e. that awareness pervades the entire anatomical physical body) -- in radical contrast to Visuddhimagga's outlier (wrong) view that one should focus only at the nostrils and ignore the entire physical body.

Excerpt from
<http://lucid24.org/sted/16aps/index.html>

> 409 CE Dhyāna Samādhi Sutra
>
> This is not from the EBT period, but is fully EBT compliant in describing step 3 of 16aps and capturing what is so peaceful, sublime, ambrosia, a brahma dwelling, and the Buddha’s preferred meditation of choice on his retreats.  
> Dhyāna Samādhi Sutra (corresponds with Ānāpānā step 3, sabba kāya patisamvedi)
> Dhyāna Samādhi Sutra (chinese to english trans. By Dr. William Chu)
>
> T15n0614\_p0275b25(08)║念諸息遍身。亦念息出入。  
> “One is mindfully aware of various breaths suffusing the whole body, as one attends to the exhalation and inhalation of the breath.
>
> T15n0614\_p0275b26(05)║悉觀身中諸出息入息。  
> As one pervasively observes the various kinds of inhalation and exhalation inside the body,
>
> T15n0614\_p0275b27(14)║覺知遍至身中乃至足指遍諸毛孔如水入沙。  
> one becomes aware and comprehends what is happening throughout the body, up to and including one’s toes and pores—[awareness] pervades as if water seeps into sands.
>
> T15n0614\_p0275b28(13)║息出覺知從足至髮遍諸毛孔亦如水入沙。譬如[夢-夕+棐]囊入出皆滿。  
> In the same way, with [each] out-breath, awareness and understanding pervade—from the toes to the hairs, permeating all the pores—as if water seeps into sands. Just like a sack that is completely filled from its bottom to its opening,
>
> T15n0614\_p0275b29(05)║口鼻風入出亦爾。觀身周遍見風行處。  
> so too should one experience the body being saturated this way with [each] in-breath coming in from mouth [and/or] nose.
>
> T15n0614\_p0275c01(07)║如藕根孔亦如魚網。復心非獨口鼻觀息入出。  
> One should perceive that throughout the body, where ‘wind’ traverses, it is as if it traverses through the holes of a lotus root; it is as if it traverses through the eyes of a fish net.
>
> T15n0614\_p0275c02(06)║一切毛孔及九孔中。亦見息入息出。  
> Furthermore, one should not just perceive the breath as going in and out of one’s mouth [and/or] nose; one should also see that the breath comes in and out from all the pores and from the nine orifices of the body.
>
> T15n0614\_p0275c03(09)║是故知息遍諸身  
> For this reason, one should understand that the breath pervades throughout the body."

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/ST5Al.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/ST5Al.png)

In SN 54, the Anapana Samyutta, prior to this sutta in the first 9 suttas, the 16 steps of 16 APS have not been associated with the 4 tetrads of 4sp (satipatthana, right mindfulness). So the first thing to understand about this context is that the Buddha is trying to explain how the breath is related to each of the 4 tetrads. One might question, how is the breath related to the anatomical body (kāya)? So the Buddha explains that the breath is also a type of body. One might question, how is vedana (feeling) a breath? And the Buddha explains the breath is a certain type of feeling. One might question how is the breath related to the tetrad of citta-anupassana, and so on. So in saying that the breath is one type of body, the context here is trying to justify how the breath ties in to 4sp (satipatthana) practice in general, how it ties in to kāya anupassana (body contemplation). He’s not trying to redefine the default definition of body understood as physical.
The second thing to notice is that the Buddha is saying the breath is a type of kāya (body), ***is ONE type of body***, among the already established understanding of body as being composed of 4 elements. He is not overriding the definition of kāya here, ***he is not saying breath is the only type of body, and he certainly didn’t say in this context breath is the whole body and the anatomical body should be discarded from meditative awareness***.
The third thing to notice, even if we want to practice 16 APS taking the breath to be the only part of the physical body that we’re contemplating, ignoring the remaining 3 of the 4 elements, this body of breath has shape, dimension, occupying the same physical space as our anatomical body.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/o4yHP.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/o4yHP.png)

detailed comprehensive analysis on term 'pari mukha'
<http://lucid24.org/tped/p/parimukha/book/index.html>

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: @116PУC Perhaps there's also empirical evidence, and whether it accords with preconceived doctrine i.e. what people might already/previously know to be true.  
> **username_1**: see reedited post for response to comment. Vism. interpretation of step 3 of 16 steps meditation is completely unfounded. There really shouldn't be a controversy. But like anything, buddhism is political. the ruling political party dictates the 'correct' interpretation, when careful examination of evidence is incontrovertibly clear their interpretation is wrong.  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2020-05-10. Score: 0

Just breathe. You are overthinking it too much.


---

### Answer by username_5 on 2020-05-07. Score: 0

I don't want to answer the down voting answers. But If you can read the below quote's from the cannon, you may re-think about what you are doing as a meditation with external world instead of the dependent core-arising.

Below is about the uninstructed run-of-the-mill person from [Assutava Sutta](https://zugangzureinsicht.org/html/tipitaka/sn/sn12/sn12.061.than_en.html)

> Monks, an uninstructed run-of-the-mill person might grow disenchanted
> with this body composed of the four great elements, might grow
> dispassionate toward it, might gain release from it. Why is that?
> Because the growth & decline, the taking up & putting down of this
> body composed of the four great elements are apparent. Thus the
> uninstructed run-of-the-mill person might grow disenchanted, might
> grow dispassionate, might gain release there.

And below is about instructed disciple of the noble ones from same [Assutava Sutta](https://zugangzureinsicht.org/html/tipitaka/sn/sn12/sn12.061.than_en.html)

> "The instructed disciple of the noble ones, [however,] attends
> carefully & appropriately right there at the dependent co-arising


---

### Answer by username_6 on 2020-05-07. Score: 0

Focus on where you feel the in and out breath. The location varies with each individual so there is no 1 place to focus on.


---

### Answer by username_7 on 2020-05-08. Score: 0

In [this guide](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/breathmed.html), Thanissaro Bhikkhu wrote that you can focus on any place where the breath can be sensed, whether it is the nose, chest, abdomen or any other place:

> Only when you have cleared the mind in this way, and set outside
> matters aside, are you ready to focus on the breath. Bring your
> attention to the sensation of breathing. Breathe in long and out long
> for a couple of times, **focusing on any spot in the body where the
> breathing is easy to notice, and your mind feels comfortable focusing.
> This could be at the nose, at the chest, at the abdomen, or any spot
> at all**. Stay with that spot, noticing how it feels as you breathe in
> and out. Don't force the breath, or bear down too heavily with your
> focus. Let the breath flow naturally, and simply keep track of how it
> feels. Savor it, as if it were an exquisite sensation you wanted to
> prolong. If your mind wanders off, simply bring it back. Don't get
> discouraged. If it wanders 100 times, bring it back 100 times. Show it
> that you mean business, and eventually it will listen to you.

According to [Chapter 2 "Sitting Meditation"](https://www.sirimangalo.org/text/how-to-meditate/chapter-two-sitting-meditation/) of the book "[How To Meditate](https://www.sirimangalo.org/text/how-to-meditate/)" by Yuttadhammo Bhikkhu, you can also try to observe movements of the abdomen, instead of nasal sensations:

> The purpose of formal meditation is to limit our experience to the
> fewest number of objects in order to allow for easy observation
> without becoming overwhelmed or distracted. When sitting still, the
> whole body is tranquil and the only movement is when the breath enters
> and leaves the body. **When the breath enters the body, there should be
> a rising motion in the abdomen. When the breath leaves the body, there
> should likewise be a falling motion. If the movement is not readily
> apparent, you can put your hand on your abdomen until it becomes
> clear.**
>
> If it is difficult to perceive the motion of the abdomen even with
> your hand, you can try lying down on your back until you are able to
> perceive it. Difficulty in finding the rising and falling motion of
> the abdomen when sitting is generally due to mental tension and
> stress; if one is patient and persistent in the practice, one’s mind
> and body will begin to relax until one is able to breathe as naturally
> sitting up as when lying down.
>
> The most important thing to remember is that we are trying to observe
> the breath in its natural state, rather than forcing or controlling it
> in any way. In the beginning, the breath may be shallow or
> uncomfortable, but once the mind begins to let go and stops trying to
> control the breath, the rise and fall of the abdomen will become more
> clear and allow for comfortable observation.
>
> It is this rising and falling motion that we will use as our first
> object of meditation. Once we are able to observe the motion of the
> abdomen without difficulty, it will serve as a default object of
> meditation for us to return to at any time.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thk u all respected sir and masters for giving me guidance .I could feel the rise and fall of abdomen with and without placing hands in sitting position.Once again I thk u all If it is possible for you to send a video of watching breath at abdomen.  

---

