user16451: I can not  focus in upper lip: my focus goes in to nostril. I can now watch breath in nostril, but can not stay focussed on upper lip and watch breath. I focus on entire nose and not on upper lip, and watch breath in nasal passage -- is this right ? I doubt is it controlled breathing ? 
Secondly I want to learn to stay focussed on upper lip and watch breath -- please guide.

user295: 
When the area is bigger there is a chance you can feel the touch better
When the area is small concentration increases

The transition from from the large area to small should be gradual and based on the state of your concentration from day to day. So start with the larger area, once you feel the touch at some point in this area continuously without loss of concentration or mind wandering away narrow it down. At this point concentrate of finding touch point within the chosen area. It might take some time but persistently doing it you will start feeling the touch sensations then narrow it down again until you are left with the centre of the upper lip. At any point you cannot feel the touch concentrate on the flow. Don't narrow the area too soon. Make sure you are comfortable with the chosen area and you continuously feel the touch before narrowing. Once you consolidate move to the next stage, i.e., a smaller area. Also there may be days even when you are accomplished you cannot directly concentra on the smaller area without some "warm up" with a larger area.
Watching the breath in the nasal passage is OK when your chosen area is the top of the nose and base of the upper lip. When you narrow it down to the tip of the nose and the upper lips you should concentrate on the sensation rims of the nostril and upper lip. Once you narrow down the area upper lip then you can look for touch in the upper lip area and part of the nasal rims on the upper lip. Once you further narrow it down to the centre of the upper lip look for the touch from the base of the nasal bridge down to the about the lip area. Ignore sensations you might feel in other areas. E.g. when transitioning to large triangle area you might still feel the air within the norils, but at this point you should concentrate on sensations on the rims of the nostrils and upper lip.

user8157: You can watch breath in the nostril or nasal passage. You do not have to stay focused on the upper lip. 
Secondly, there is no need to learn to stay focused on upper lip. The purpose of watching breathing, continuously, is to make the mind steady & calm. It does not matter exactly where the breathing is watched. 
Also, if the mind follows & tracks the breathing into & within the physical body (from the nose to throat to chest to abdomen) this is also acceptable in relation to what the Buddha taught.
In higher concentration, the breathing is felt in the top of nostrils and not on the upper lip. In other words, feeling the touch of the breathing in the nostrils is better than at the upper lip.
However, for beginners, knowing the breath at the upper lip helps in experiencing the breath come in & out of the body. 

16451: <p>I can not  focus in upper lip: my focus goes in to nostril. I can now watch breath in nostril, but can not stay focussed on upper lip and watch breath. I focus on entire nose and not on upper lip, and watch breath in nasal passage -- is this right ? I doubt is it controlled breathing ? </p>

<p>Secondly I want to learn to stay focussed on upper lip and watch breath -- please guide.</p>
 295: <ul>
<li>When the area is bigger there is a chance you can feel the touch better</li>
<li>When the area is small concentration increases</li>
</ul>

<p>The transition from from the large area to small should be gradual and based on the state of your concentration from day to day. So start with the larger area, once you feel the touch at some point in this area continuously without loss of concentration or mind wandering away narrow it down. At this point concentrate of finding touch point within the chosen area. It might take some time but persistently doing it you will start feeling the touch sensations then narrow it down again until you are left with the centre of the upper lip. At any point you cannot feel the touch concentrate on the flow. Don't narrow the area too soon. Make sure you are comfortable with the chosen area and you continuously feel the touch before narrowing. Once you consolidate move to the next stage, i.e., a smaller area. Also there may be days even when you are accomplished you cannot directly concentra on the smaller area without some "warm up" with a larger area.</p>

<p>Watching the breath in the nasal passage is OK when your chosen area is the top of the nose and base of the upper lip. When you narrow it down to the tip of the nose and the upper lips you should concentrate on the sensation rims of the nostril and upper lip. Once you narrow down the area upper lip then you can look for touch in the upper lip area and part of the nasal rims on the upper lip. Once you further narrow it down to the centre of the upper lip look for the touch from the base of the nasal bridge down to the about the lip area. Ignore sensations you might feel in other areas. E.g. when transitioning to large triangle area you might still feel the air within the norils, but at this point you should concentrate on sensations on the rims of the nostrils and upper lip.</p>
 8157: <p>You can watch breath in the nostril or nasal passage. You do not have to stay focused on the upper lip. </p>

<p>Secondly, there is no need to learn to stay focused on upper lip. The purpose of watching breathing, continuously, is to make the mind steady &amp; calm. It does not matter exactly where the breathing is watched. </p>

<p>Also, if the mind follows &amp; tracks the breathing into &amp; within the physical body (from the nose to throat to chest to abdomen) this is also acceptable in relation to what the Buddha taught.</p>

<p>In higher concentration, the breathing is felt in the top of nostrils and not on the upper lip. In other words, feeling the touch of the breathing in the nostrils is better than at the upper lip.</p>

<p>However, for beginners, knowing the breath at the upper lip helps in experiencing the breath come in &amp; out of the body. </p>
