How can I focus on breath at the tip of my nose? I have chosen to practice meditation on and mindfulness of the breath, at the tip of the nose, as prescribed by the Buddha. My difficulty, simply put, is that I am able to sense and focus on the breath everywhere BUT the tip of my nose! I suspect that focusing on where I do perceive it (in the nostrils) might be sufficient, but I want to precisely follow the instructions given by the Buddha.

I came to notice on my own one day that projecting my attention onto a fixed location in the space in front of my head (with eyes closed) seemed to facilitate absorption in single-minded awareness. I had hoped that directing my awareness to the tip of my nose would produce similar results. Imagine my disappointment upon finding that I was unable to fixate my focus as the Buddha recommended! I will be very grateful for any guidance... May all beings find perfect freedom from dukkha and samsara!
&quot;Mukha&quot; can merely mean &quot;to the front&quot; or &quot;to the fore&quot;.
&quot;Pari&quot; means &quot;all round&quot;.
&quot;Pari mukha&quot; means to make mindfulness the foremost of the mind's activity in an all pervasive way.
&quot;Mindfulness&quot; means &quot;to remember&quot; or &quot;keep in mind&quot; the teachings. The teachings are about abiding without unwholesome states &amp; craving.
Mindfulness establishes the mind all round to be without unwholesome states &amp; craving.
The Buddha taught to keep the mind as pure as possible and, when this is done, the mind will naturally know the breathing in whatever place the breath is felt.
The Buddha did not teach about the nose-tip. Pari mukha does not mean tip of the nose or nose-tip.
If we attempt to only watch breathing at the nose-tip; this will be unnatural for the mind; cause frustration; and have adverse affects (such as sleepiness or &quot;sinking mind&quot;).

After his meal, returning from his alms round, he sits down, crosses his legs, holds his body erect, and brings mindfulness to the fore (parimukhaṃ).
Abandoning covetousness with regard to the world, he dwells with an awareness devoid of covetousness. He cleanses his mind of covetousness. Abandoning ill will &amp; anger, he dwells with an awareness devoid of ill will, sympathetic with the welfare of all living beings. He cleanses his mind of ill will &amp; anger. Abandoning sloth &amp; drowsiness, he dwells with an awareness devoid of sloth &amp; drowsiness, mindful, alert, percipient of light. He cleanses his mind of sloth &amp; drowsiness. Abandoning restlessness &amp; anxiety, he dwells undisturbed, his mind inwardly stilled. He cleanses his mind of restlessness &amp; anxiety. Abandoning uncertainty, he dwells having crossed over uncertainty, with no perplexity with regard to skillful mental qualities. He cleanses his mind of uncertainty.
MN 38