The specific visualization of "thoughts as clouds" would likely be discouraged by Sayadaw U Tejaniya for the reason stated: it involves creating an image or mental concept and paying attention to that, which is a subtle form of mental exertion and fabrication.
Sayadaw U Tejaniya's View on Mental Images
Sayadaw U Tejaniya's teaching is a form of Vipassanā that prioritizes direct, natural awareness (paṭisatikā) and the observation of the actual qualities of the mind, not conceptual constructs.
Here is a breakdown of why he advises against "looking too much" at internal images:
- Avoids Fabrication (Creating an Object): Visualization techniques (like imagining clouds, rivers, or leaves) intentionally create a focus point. Sayadaw teaches that the object of meditation (vipassanā object) must be natural—something that arises on its own (a thought, a feeling, a sound, or the sensation of the body). Creating an image is seen as unnecessary effort and an interference with the natural flow of reality.
- Focuses on the Process, Not the Content: When the mind creates an image or a thought, his instruction is to simply know that the mind is thinking or imagining and to check the quality of the mind (e.g., is it tense, lost, curious, relaxed). Getting absorbed in the image—even the image of a helpful cloud—is "looking too much" at the concept, which takes you away from the direct reality of the mental process itself.
- Returning to the Body/Present Awareness: The instruction to "come back to the body and the awareness" is the fundamental redirection. The body is always an immediate, non-conceptual object of awareness. If you notice a thought or image (like the cloud) and feel drawn to it, the skillful move is simply to acknowledge the mental activity ("thinking," "imagining") and gently return to the broad, relaxed awareness of the present moment, which often includes body sensations.
In conclusion, the aim of the cloud visualization (non-clinging observation) is aligned with his practice, but the method (creating a mental image) is generally not his style. He would prefer you simply recognize, "Ah, thinking is happening," or "imagining is happening," and then let it go naturally, returning your attention to the overall field of present-moment experience.