Which of the following statements is correct in relation to the teachings of the Buddha?

a- Buddha's speeches were written down during his lifetime after every sermon.

b- His teachings were compiled by his disciples at a council of "elders" or senior monks in Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh.

Neither of them is correct.

The Buddha and the other teachers taught orally- through discussions and debates. Men and women, perhaps children as well attended these discourses and discussed what they heard. None of the Buddha's speeches were written down during his lifetime. After his death (c. fifth-fourth century BCE) his teachings were compiled by his disciples at a council of "elders" or senior monks at Vesali (Pali for Vaishali) in present-day Bihar. These compilations were known as Tripitaka- Literally, three baskets to hold different types of texts. These were first transmitted orally and then written and classified according to length as well as subject matter.