22. 'He may either shave or wear a lock on the crown of the head.' The Gainas have improved on this rule as they make baldness binding for all monks. According to Baudhayana a Brahman on becoming an ascetic had to cause 'the hair of his head, his beard, the hair on his body, and his nails to be cut.' The same practice, at least as regards the cutting of the hair, was observed by the Gainas on the same occasion. Hence the phrase: 'becoming bald (or tearing out one's hair) to leave the house and enter the state of houselessness .'
23. 'He shall avoid the destruction of seeds.' The reader will observe, in many passages of the second book of the Akaranga Sutra, how careful Gaina monks should be of avoiding to injure eggs, living beings, seeds, sprouts, &c. It seems therefore that the Gainas have only generalised the above rule in applying it to all small beings of the animal and vegetable world.
24. (He shall be) indifferent towards (all) creatures, whether they do him an injury or a kindness.'
25. 'He shall not undertake (anything for his temporal or spiritual welfare).'
The last two rules could just as well be taken from a sacred book of the Gainas, for they are in full. accordance with the drift of their religion. Mahavira strictly carried them out. 'More than four months many sorts of living beings gathered on his body, crawled about it, and caused there pain .' 'Always well guarded, he bore the pains (caused by) grass, cold, fire, flies, and gnats; manifold pains .' 'He with equanimity bore, underwent, and suffered all pleasant
or unpleasant occurrences, arising from divine powers, men, or animals .' It is frequently said of the ascetic in the last stage of his spiritual career that 'he does desire neither life nor death .'
There are some more precepts in Baudhayana which bear a close resemblance to such of the Gainas. 'With the three means of punishment, (viz.) words, thoughts, and acts, he shall not injure created beings .' This is only an amplification of the first great vow (see above). 'Means of punishment' is what the Gainas call weapon (sastra ).