Since deepening my meditation practice, I've noticed an increased lucidity in my dreams for better and for worse. I am able to remember my dreams more frequently and I have also had an increase in "nightmares", which I haven't had in years. Does anyone here have insight into these experiences or had similar experiences. I am more so curious as to whether this has to do with my practice or if it is just a coincidence... Thank you
You should consult with your meditation teacher. Meditation can do things to dreams, but it depends on what meditation, what other practices you do, how well you were trained,, your state of mental and physical health, etc. Too many variables for a bunch of stranges on the Internet to diagnose. You need a live, breathing human teacher.
I have experienced such clarity in dreams as well. I believe there is not really much that you can do except to look at the reality of the dream, what it felt like during your dream and after your dream, and to then slowly see reality as it is. Hope this helps, peace and understanding to you <3
I started to experience extreme clarity and lucidity after practicing wake induced lucid dreaming. Whenever I go through the process I almost always don't actually become lucid from being wake induced but the whole process of relaxing the body but keeping the mind open completely changes the amount and clearness of dreams I can recall..
You've probably been having nightmares your whole life, most people do. But now that you remember more dreams you also remember more nightmares. Lucid dreaming should help because then you can change it to a good dream.
Meditation increases your awareness of your perceptions. Perhaps your meditation has just increased your awareness of waking life enough that it carries over into sleep.
Nightmares are only nightmares if you choose to view them as nightmares. Re-evaluate your experience and you'll see it's just as fun to experience all. All levels exist in the Buddha, with the good comes the bad - but you do not have to accept it as bad.
Increased awareness means more dream retention upon waking. Also, if the meditation practice actually is working then yes there will be more nightmares due to stirring up deep vritti.
