Dear Paul,

> The authors of the PED attribute the definition of pu~n~na as
> cleansing
> to Dhammapaala but reject it as "fanciful".
> The more common definition is closer to, "merit, good, goodness,
> meritorious action" per A.K. Warder.

Thanks, I read the PED, but still I am following the venerable
teachers on this one... Stede doesn't give an alternative derivation,
and I think he is only rejecting the phrase "santaana.m pu.naati
visodheti". He doesn't tell us why it is fanciful... Does Warder
give an etymology?

At any rate, I think pu~n~na must necessarily relate to cleansing or
purifying the mind - in order to merit heaven or nibbaana, we have to
cleanse our minds. If giving doesn't reduce one's greed, is it really
pu~n~na?

Suma"ngalaani,

Yuttadhammo