The Jhanas in Theravada Buddhist Meditation

the Theravada tradition is to read what the Suttas really say about the Jhanas. It is a path to Nibbana and it is not secondary in any way to so called "insight" meditation. The Buddha and Sariputta et al were Jhana masters. It was their primary meditation. On the Buddha's death he reached Nibbana by the Jhanas. The Suttas say that the Jhanas slope towards Nibbana. Basically, in my opinion the teachings of this great Jhana master (The Buddha) have been hijacked with a focus away from the Jhanas. To study what the Theravada says about the Jhanas is like looking at a pure object through a clouded lens.