Sayadaw U Tejaniya emphasizes that mindfulness is a continuous practice that includes all daily activities, and speaking is a significant opportunity for this practice. His core teaching focuses on being aware of the mind's attitude and intentions throughout the process.

Here are the key points of his teaching on mindfulness when speaking:

1. Awareness of Intention and Motivation (The "Before" Moment)

The most important moment is before you speak. This is where you can catch the underlying intention and motivation.

• Know the Intention to Speak: Be aware of the subtle shift in the mind when you are "about to" say something.
• Check the Motivation (Right View): Investigate the reason why you want to speak. Is the motivation rooted in a defilement (greed/desire, aversion/anger, or delusion), or is it rooted in wholesome qualities like compassion or necessity?
  • Example: Are you speaking because of a strong desire to be right, to complain, or to show off? Or is it to be helpful, kind, or to communicate clearly?
• Practice Right Speech: Sayadaw U Tejaniya points to the traditional four precepts of Right Speech as a strong foundation for daily practice:
  • Abstain from false speech (lies).
  • Abstain from malicious speech (dividing people).
  • Abstain from harsh speech (abusive language).
  • Abstain from useless speech (idle chatter).

2. Awareness During the Act of Speaking

The practice continues through the speech itself, paying attention to what is happening both mentally and physically.

• Be Aware of the Mind: Continually check the state of your mind while you are talking. Is your mind agitated, hurried, or relaxed? Are you getting carried away by the content?
• Know the Tone and Energy: Be aware of the tone of your voice and the mental energy behind the words. If you notice agitation, reaction, or unwholesome states, it's better to pause or stop speaking until the mind calms down.
• Know You Are Speaking: Maintain a relaxed, continuous awareness that "speaking is happening." Be mindful of the physical sensations in the throat and face, and the sound vibrations of your own speech.
• Be Relaxed and Not in a Hurry: If you are too eager or rushed to convey something, you'll likely lose mindfulness. Take it easy and slow down the process, especially when training.

3. Learning from Mistakes

Mistakes are not a failure but an opportunity for wisdom to grow.

• Don't Judge the Defilement: If you realize you have spoken unskillfully, do not become self-critical (which is another defilement). Simply notice the unwholesome mind state (e.g., regret, anger, pride) that arose.
• Learn and Adjust: Use the mistake as a lesson. By seeing the causes and consequences of your unmindful speech, you can learn how to do better next time. Every time you speak is a chance to apply awareness and wisdom.

In essence, his approach encourages a relaxed, continuous, and all-encompassing awareness that is more interested in the quality of the mind (the observing mind) than the object itself. When speaking, the mind's attitudes and intentions are the most important objects to observe and understand.