Seeing Bad Things While Meditating

[Sadness&Tears]

I am somewhat new to meditation. Yesterday, I was doing a guided meditation and as my mind was clearing I suddenly saw a very vivid flash of this very insane, bug-eyed looking woman with short red hair who was yelling and screaming at a guy sitting next to her (basically in my position). She pulled out a hand gun and shot the guy point blank. The shot of the gun jerked me away from that scene and I was very freaked out. Why would I see something like that? What can I do to calm those kinds of scenes?

[jonesboy]

Ignore it. Maybe it was a scene from some movie you saw way back. Whatever it is, doesn't matter. Just let it go.

[revmac]

did this vision keep you from your goal? first thing i would ask myself is what was what purpose i gave the meditation and why would something want to distract me from accomplishing it? focus less on what you saw and more on why you were distracted.

[Elina]

Hello

If you are new to meditation the mind tends to wander a lot and have distractions of all sorts as you try to keep it in the present moment. It is not used to you taking control of your mind and making it still and focusing on a single point through meditation. Daily life is full of distractions where our senses are constantly appealed to.
It is important to keep persevering - anything that distracts you away from your focus no matter how small or how many times, gently smile and inwardly say 'thank you for the test'. This way you are training your mind to keep coming back to the focus of your meditation (such as breathing), without getting angry or beating yourself up about it.
I have no doubt that with daily practice you'll soon feel the benefits of meditation as you get used to it - and like Jonesboy said, maybe it was a movie, even if it wasn't, let it go and bring your focus back :)

[Elina]

Hello

If you are new to meditation the mind tends to wander a lot and have distractions of all sorts as you try to keep it in the present moment. It is not used to you taking control of your mind and making it still and focusing on a single point through meditation. Daily life is full of distractions where our senses are constantly appealed to.
It is important to keep persevering - anything that distracts you away from your focus no matter how small or how many times, gently smile and inwardly say 'thank you for the test'. This way you are training your mind to keep coming back to the focus of your meditation (such as breathing), without getting angry or beating yourself up about it.
I have no doubt that with daily practice you'll soon feel the benefits of meditation as you get used to it - and like Jonesboy said, maybe it was a movie, even if it wasn't, let it go and bring your focus back :)

[wanchain]

Originally Posted by Sadness&Tears

I am somewhat new to meditation. Yesterday, I was doing a guided meditation and as my mind was clearing I suddenly saw a very vivid flash of this very insane, bug-eyed looking woman with short red hair who was yelling and screaming at a guy sitting next to her (basically in my position). She pulled out a hand gun and shot the guy point blank. The shot of the gun jerked me away from that scene and I was very freaked out. Why would I see something like that? What can I do to calm those kinds of scenes?

That's cool! Sounds like you were journeying. ^_^

I get imageries like that too, similar to what we get in dreams, but while I am fully awake and conscious. I ask for interpretation of the imageries, as they unfold, like a video clip. The images are symbols.

Next time if you have a similar experience, ask it what it means. It is possible that your psyche or subconscious is trying to communicate something to you, and images and emotions is the language it speaks. So you just need a translator. :)