Why is the tripitaka so important?

Answer 1

The Thripitakaya remained unwritten but continued to survive in memory of the Maha Sangha (Great Buddhist Monks) until it was compiled into writing for the first time during the reign of King Walagambahu of Sri Lanka (1st century BCE) . The written Pali Thripitikaya was guarded and protected by the Maha Sangha at the sacrifice of their lives to survive three reigns of foreign invasions. (Portuguese / Dutch / English) . It is written in the Sri Lankan history that, more than 1000 Monks who were already "Arahath" state (totally Awakened / Enlightened ) represented in writing down.

The most nearest reason for that to be written was to protect Buddhism from continual invasions from south India.

Therefore, not only the Sri Lankans, but also the people the world over who hear a single stanza from the Thripitakaya are indebted to the "Maha Sangha" (Great Buddhist Monks) to the extent of laying prostrate at their worthy feet.

Ramindu Heiyantuduwa

Answer 2

The Tripitaka is the Holy Book for the Buddhists. It has all the Buddha's teachings in it and also tells the Buddhists how to live their life.. This book helps the Buddhists to follow their religion.

Answer 3

According to Wikipedia: The Tripiṭaka (Sanskrit; Devanagari: त्रिपिटक; Bengali: ত্রিপিটক ; lit. three baskets) is the Sanskrit term used by Westerners for a Buddhist canon of scriptures. Asian Buddhists of the Theravada Buddhist school use the term Tipitaka to refer to the Pali Canon. Other Buddhist schools use other terms for their own collection of scriptures, such as Kangyur (Tibetan Buddhism) and 大藏經 Dà Zàng Jīng (Far East Mahayana Buddhism). Each of the Early Buddhist Schools had their own recension of the Tripitaka, which mainly differed on the subject of Abhidhamma. In terms of Vinaya and Sutras, the contents were remarkably similar.