Final answer:
The primary form of meditation in the Vedas was an early form of yoga, which aimed at stopping thought to encounter one's true self and unite with the supreme soul. This practice formed part of the spiritual development emphasized in the Vedic tradition, later influencing Jainism and Buddhism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary form of meditation in the Vedas was an early form of yoga as a spiritual practice. In the Vedic tradition, meditation involved ascetic practices, concentration, and self-discipline aimed at spiritual development. The purpose of yoga was described as the cessation of the movement of thought, allowing the individual to encounter their true self and experience unity with the supreme soul.
The Vedas, composed between 1500 and 900 BCE, include the Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda. These texts, particularly during the later Upanishadic period, reflect on the nature of consciousness, the self, and reality beyond the realm of sense perception, concepts that are central to the meditation practices described within them. Notably, the Upanishadic texts give rise to philosophies that influenced the practice of yoga within Jainism and Buddhism.