user8198: I am practicing samadhi meditation using the breath as an object.  Most teachers say to watch the breath at the tip of the nose.  However, Ajahn Brahm says not to locate the breath anywhere.  I find that these two approaches are very different.  Which one is right?

user295: This stems from the different interpretation of Parimukham in Anapanasati Sutta and relate other Suttas. Here in Ajahn Brahm's tradition what is said is to simply establish mindfulness. (See Ven. Sujato's interpretation in What is the Interpretation of Parimukham in the context of Buddhist Meditation?)
One way to judge what is the right interpretation if the instruction can be put to practice easily, after all these are meditation instructions. In this context both interpretations seem valid.
Also Suttas like Sammaditthi Sutta mentions the calming of verbal fabrication, i.e., calming of thinking and pondering. The beast is way to start this process is the develops concentration by anchoring your mind on a small fixed object like the centre of the upper lip.

user98: Everybody is right. You need to decide what is right for you and which teacher you follow.
I practice Suizen (meditating by playing the Shakuhachi, a Japanese bamboo flute). My way to breath and my thinking about it - is it right or wrong? Who decides? Is it the right thing for you? Is your way of meditation the right thing for me? Is my teacher more right than Ajahn? Is Ajahn enlightened?
This all does not matter.
As a Shakuhachi player I am aware that I should not become attached to the Shakuhachi and to the specific practice. The practice itself is only the tool. You should not be attached to Samadhi meditation as well. It is only a tool. 
Don't start making an "correctness order" in the different practices. Just chose yours. Otherwise it will not lead to anything.
Ajahn Brahm is a fantastic writer and certainly a wise person. There is so much more to learn from what he says than "just" the "location of the breath".
Finally I want to share this story/quote which I can only translate roughly, but impressed for me for years. I hope it inspires you as well.

The King invited Hannyatara (Bodhidharmas teacher) to practice Sutra. All practiced Sutra, but Hannyatara remained silent. "Why don't
  you practice?", the King asked. Hannyatara replied: "I practice the
  real Sutra at any time, with every breath I take"


user-1: Whatever works for you is right. In essence this is the doctrine of the 84,000 techniques. 

user-1: Nose tips or everywhere else is ok.
But when you found an obvoius point to observe.
Use that single point your entire life, focus on that, And don't try to move to everywhere.
We do sammadi to make Janas.
Janas means become firmillar.
When you become firmillar with that point, Your mind will automatically observe that point without thinking of it or taking any effort.

8198: <p>I am practicing samadhi meditation using the breath as an object.  Most teachers say to watch the breath at the tip of the nose.  However, Ajahn Brahm says not to locate the breath anywhere.  I find that these two approaches are very different.  Which one is right?</p>
 295: <p>This stems from the different interpretation of <a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/2518/">Parimukham</a> in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anapanasati_Sutta" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Anapanasati Sutta</a> and relate other Suttas. Here in Ajahn Brahm's tradition what is said is to simply establish mindfulness. (See Ven. Sujato's interpretation in <a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/2518/">What is the Interpretation of Parimukham in the context of Buddhist Meditation?</a>)</p>

<p>One way to judge what is the right interpretation if the instruction can be put to practice easily, after all these are meditation instructions. In this context both interpretations seem valid.</p>

<p>Also Suttas like <a href="http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/11.14-Sammaditthi-S-m9-piya.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Sammaditthi Sutta</a> mentions the calming of verbal fabrication, i.e., calming of thinking and pondering. The beast is way to start this process is the develops concentration by anchoring your mind on a small fixed object like the centre of the upper lip.</p>
 98: <p>Everybody is right. You need to decide what is right for you and which teacher you follow.</p>

<p>I practice Suizen (meditating by playing the Shakuhachi, a Japanese bamboo flute). My way to breath and my thinking about it - is it right or wrong? Who decides? Is it the right thing for you? Is your way of meditation the right thing for me? Is my teacher more right than Ajahn? Is Ajahn enlightened?</p>

<p>This all does not matter.</p>

<p>As a Shakuhachi player I am aware that I should not become attached to the Shakuhachi and to the specific practice. The practice itself is only the tool. You should not be attached to Samadhi meditation as well. It is only a tool. </p>

<p>Don't start making an "correctness order" in the different practices. Just chose yours. Otherwise it will not lead to anything.</p>

<p>Ajahn Brahm is a fantastic writer and certainly a wise person. There is so much more to learn from what he says than "just" the "location of the breath".</p>

<p>Finally I want to share this story/quote which I can only translate roughly, but impressed for me for years. I hope it inspires you as well.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The King invited Hannyatara (Bodhidharmas teacher) to practice Sutra. All practiced Sutra, but Hannyatara remained silent. "Why don't
  you practice?", the King asked. Hannyatara replied: "I practice the
  real Sutra at any time, with every breath I take"</p>
</blockquote>
 -1: <p>Whatever works for you is right. In essence this is the doctrine of the 84,000 techniques. </p>
 -1: <p>Nose tips or everywhere else is ok.
But when you found an obvoius point to observe.
Use that single point your entire life, focus on that, And don't try to move to everywhere.</p>

<p>We do sammadi to make Janas.
Janas means become firmillar.</p>

<p>When you become firmillar with that point, Your mind will automatically observe that point without thinking of it or taking any effort.</p>
