The redneck strike again.

[Little Rik]

I looked up Shiva and Krishna teaching meditation.

To me these techniques look like man made fantasies.
In tantric meditation that Shiva taught you need a mantra or sound that goes on when you inhale and exhale while concentrating on a particular cakra.
Anyway it is up to you to believe or not.

Many easy and proven meditation techniques are taken from many scriptures and sacred books. These meditation techniques are described here with the name of source scripture for reference

It is important to remember that what was good in the past may or may not be good in the present.
Take the acupuncture.
Few thousand years ago when this technique was invented people had a different nervous system and that technique was working then.
These days this technique it is not very effective as our nervous system is quite different.
The same thing apply to almost everything.
The mantras used during Shiva times are not good anymore.

The San are still living a hunter/gatherer lifestyle in South Africa and their religion includes Shamanic Trance

Psychologists have investigated hallucinations and altered states of consciousness in neuropsychology. They found that entoptic phenomena can occur through rhythmic dancing, music, sensory deprivation, hyperventilation, prolonged and intense concentration and migraines.[23]

Meanwhile, over in Amazonian Peru, people use

Ayahuasca

People who have consumed ayahuasca report having spiritual revelations regarding their purpose on earth, the true nature of the universe as well as deep insight into how to be the best person they possibly can.[2] This is viewed by many as a spiritual awakening and what is often described as a rebirth.[3] In addition, it is often reported that individuals can gain access to higher spiritual dimensions and make contact with various spiritual or extra dimensional beings who can act as guides or healers.[4]

I leave these techniques to anyone who enjoy masturbating their brains.
I stick with natural techniques that are free from negative effects.

So which came first? Sophisticated meditation techniques or early humans accidentally discovering altered states of consciousness and developing shamanic style religions and spirituality as a way of explaining their experiences?

Spirituality and altered states of consciousness due to artificial means
have little in common.
Spirituality is a natural technique while the rest is like a mental masturbation.
I wouldn't know which one came first.
What i know is that if a person is ready to experience the good and natural way to progress spiritually he-she will experience no matter in what age or planet he-she live.

I don't think that being hit by a baseball bat proves that amazing skills were developed in past lives.

It is up to you to believe this or that.
To me reincarnation make a lot of sense.
You build up your own consciousness.
Nobody does that for you.
You can give a material thing to whoever
you like but you can not give something
like consciousness to other people.