Buddha's Death (Extract)

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Then the Blessed One elevated into the first trance. From the first trance he elevated  into the second trance. From the second trance he elevated into the third trance. From the third trance he elevated into the fourth trance. From the fourth trance he elevated into the state of an infinity of space. From melting into the state of infinite space he elevated into the state of an infinity of consciousness. From melting into the state of infinite consciuosness he elevated into the state of nothingness. From melting into the state of nothingness he elevated into the state of neither detection nor insensibility. From melting into the state of neither sense nor insensibility he elevated into a state of elimination of sensation and perception.
Then the venerable Ananda said to the venerable Anuruddha:
"Mr. Anuruddha, the final extinction of the Blessed One had come."
"No, brother Ananda, the Blessed One's final extinction has not yet occurred, he only elevated into the elimination of sensation and perception."
Then the Blessed One, from melting into the elimination of sensation and perception elevated into the state of neither detection nor insensibility. From melting into the state of neither sense nor insensibility he elevated into the state is nothingness. From melting into the state of nothingness he elevated into the state of an infinity of consciousness. From melting into the state of an infinity of consciousness he elevated into the state of infinite space. From melting into the state of infinite space he elevated into the fourth trance. From the fourth trance he elevated into the third trance. From the third trance he elevated into the second trance. From the second trance he elevated into the first trance. From the first trance he elevated into the second trance. From the second trance he elevated into the third trance. From the third trance he elevated into the fourth trance. From the fourth trance the Blessed One had come directly to the final extinction [Nirvana].

Best wishes, Joseph de la Mikula and Team