So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground. Then Venerable Dabba the Mallian went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him: “Holy One, it is the time for my full extinguishment.” “Please, Dabba, do as you see fit.”
Then Dabba rose from his seat, bowed and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right. Then he rose into the air and, sitting cross-legged in midair, entered and withdrew from the fire element before becoming fully extinguished.
Then when he was fully quenched while sitting cross-legged in midair, his body burning and combusting left neither ashes nor soot to be found. It’s like when ghee or oil blaze and burn, and neither ashes nor soot are found.
Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:
“The body is broken up, perception has ceased, all feelings have become cool; choices are stilled, and consciousness come to an end.”