1)The Buddha did say that jhanas are the way to nibbana
2)This is what Alara Kalama and Udaka Ramaputta where missing:"I tell you, the ending of the mental fermentations depends on the first jhana... the second jhana... the third... the fourth... the dimension of the infinitude of space... the dimension of the infinitude of consciousness... the dimension of nothingness. I tell you, the ending of the mental fermentations depends on the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception."
So, they had singleness of mind but not the rest of the eightfold path!, and because of that it was wrong concentration, it didn´t lead to cessation."Now what, monks, is noble right concentration with its supports & requisite conditions? Any singleness of mind equipped with these seven factors — right view, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, & right mindfulness — is called noble right concentration with its supports & requisite conditions."
3)Take mindfulness of breathing, that meditation existed way before the Buddha, in SN 54.6, A monk tells the Buddha the way he practices the breathing meditation, probably the way many ascetics did it at the time, the Buddha explains that yes, there is that breathing meditation, but in order to fullfil fully his teachings it has to be done a little bit different
Regards."But how do you develop mindfulness of in-&-out breathing, Arittha?"
"Having abandoned sensual desire for past sensual pleasures, lord, having done away with sensual desire for future sensual pleasures, and having thoroughly subdued perceptions of irritation with regard to internal & external events, I breathe in mindfully and breathe out mindfully."[1]
"There is that mindfulness of in-&-out breathing, Arittha. I don't say that there isn't. But as to how mindfulness of in-&-out breathing is brought in detail to its culmination, listen and pay close attention. I will speak............................"
