Are the Mental Volitions of Animals Avyākṛta?

The mental activities of the eighth consciousness in sentient beings are non-definitive; the mental activities of their manas (mind-root) are non-definitive, but the mental activities of their six consciousnesses are not non-definitive. All karmic actions created by the six consciousnesses are stored as karmic seeds, and all bear karmic retribution. For instance, if a sentient being hears the Buddha's teachings, it may ascend to the heavens to enjoy blessings after death—such accounts are recorded in the Buddhist scriptures. Sentient beings close to humans, those living alongside them, become familiar with human ways through exposure, understand human affairs, and resemble humans; thus, after death, they easily reincarnate into the human realm—examples include cats and dogs. If a sentient being inadvertently makes offerings to the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha), it will receive great wholesome retribution in the future and attain fruition swiftly—such accounts are recorded in the Buddhist scriptures.

What distinguishes sentient beings from humans is that their consciousness is relatively dull and foolish, incapable of deep or subtle analytical thought. Their consciousness offers little guidance or strategic direction to the manas; in most cases, it merely manifests the habitual tendencies of the manas. Consequently, they appear simple-minded and straightforward, with little scheming, devoid of hypocrisy and cunning. This is also why humans feel affection for certain sentient beings yet fear others.

All sentient beings are in the process of repaying karmic retribution from past lives. Because the force of their consciousness is weak, their capacity to create new karma is limited. Once their karmic retribution is exhausted, they are reborn into the human realm. It is the human form that creates the most severe karma, for humans possess greater cunning and powerful consciousness, enabling them to generate new karma. The consciousness of beings in the desire realm heavens is also potent, but they are in a phase of experiencing wholesome retribution; they have no need to create unwholesome karma and generate little wholesome karma, focusing primarily on enjoying celestial pleasures.