Violence in dreams

[greenfrog]

Hi all,

I wasn't sure where to put this, hopefully here is alright.

I've got a bit of an issue with being violent in my dreams. I am not a violent person in daily life, and never have been, yet I quite often find myself causing grievous injury to people in my dreams. I usually wake up soon after, and am left wondering how I could have done such things.

The people I am attacking, or defending myself from, aren't anyone who I know or hold grudges against. I don't feel like violence is an urge I am suppressing in daily life.

Has anyone had a similar experience with being violent in their dreams?

Thanks

[Mawkish1983]

Well I've never experienced dreams like you've described, but I wouldn't be too concerned about it if I were you. Just keep focusing on the moment and make wholesome decisions when you are in control of your own thoughts. I imagine a bit of metta bhavana might help eliminate those nightmares though.

[gavesako]

Sounds like some violent "inception" in your subconscious

Compare:

Inception and Lucid Dreaming: Truth Behind the Movie
http://john-b-badd.hubpages.com/hub/Inc ... d-Dreaming

[SarathW]

Hi Greenfrog
I see bad dreams when I eat certain food. Mainly meat. May be du to indigestion. So makesure that you take your main meal, say three hours before the meal.
I also found that some of my dreams related to my health. So get yourself checked.
Lack of sleeps due to unfitness or lack of exercise.
Do some Metta meditaion before sleep.
Observe five precepts.

[jackson]

Hi greenfrog,
Do you play violent video games or watch violent media? From personal experience I used to have violent dreams fairly frequently when I was younger but have found that not consuming violent content has led to a resensitization to violence and now violent dreams very rarely occur. Stay away from zombie movies!
Just to add some words of the Buddha: "Bhikkhus, whatever a bhikkhu frequently thinks and ponders upon, that will become the inclination of his mind."
http://www.palicanon.org/en/sutta-pitaka/transcribed-suttas/majjhima-nikaya/124-mn-19-dvedhvitakka-sutta-two-kinds-of-thought.html

[ground]

Don't bother. It is neither you nor yours. And yes, you may want to check what is impressing your senses when you are awake (movies, news, games, books) and refrain from these sources in case these dreams are disturbing you.

[greenfrog]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I don't play violent video games, or watch violent movies or anything like that. I don't even listen to violent music!

I don't believe eating meat can cause bad dreams sorry, so I don't think that could be the cause.

In the dreams I am usually being attacked/murdered, and I am fighting back out of a fear of dying I suppose. I often think about the Kakacupama Sutta (MN21) within which the Buddha says that if one gets angry even when you are having your limbs cut off by highway robbers, that person is not upholding his teaching. I like to think of myself as a patient person, but my reaction to such situations in dreams say otherwise! Maybe I should work harder on my patience..

Best regards

[ground]

... out of a fear of dying I suppose.

That may be investigated further.

I often think about the Kakacupama Sutta (MN21) within which the Buddha says that if one gets angry even when you are having your limbs cut off by highway robbers, that person is not upholding his teaching. I like to think of myself as a patient person, but my reaction to such situations in dreams say otherwise! Maybe I should work harder on my patience.

Maybe good to be aware that "not getting angry" does not necessarily mean to abstain from defense.

[Ben]

greenfrog,

I would not worry about the dreams. The events that occur in them - they are not real.
kind regards,
Ben

[marc108]

you and try to do a little metta before bed... probably any reflection that brings up good feelings, re: reflection on your sila, or your good qualities, will help.

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html

One sleeps easily, wakes easily, dreams no evil dreams.

[Kim O'Hara]

In the dreams I am usually being attacked/murdered, and I am fighting back out of a fear of dying I suppose...

Is it possible that the dream situations dramatise an oppressive situation in your daily life, such as being bullied at work? If so, recognising the cause may let you work on it in real life instead of having it emerge in dreams.
But as others have said, do stay physically and mentally healthy and don't think too much about your dreams. They can't hurt you, and they will pass soon enough.


Kim

[greenfrog]

Thank you everyone, I'll try not to stress over it too much if it happens again in the future