Are the Mental Volitions of Animals Avyākṛta?

The mental activities of the eighth consciousness in animals are non-definitive; the mental activities of the manas (mind faculty) in animals are non-definitive; but the mental activities of the six consciousnesses in animals are not non-definitive. All karmic actions performed by the six consciousnesses are stored as karmic seeds and will bear karmic retribution. For example, if an animal hears the Buddha Dharma, it may ascend to the heavens to enjoy blessings after death, as recorded in Buddhist scriptures. Animals that are close to humans, living alongside them, become conditioned by human ways, understand human affairs, and resemble humans; thus, after death, they are easily reborn among humans, such as cats and dogs. If an animal inadvertently makes offerings to the Triple Gem, it will receive great virtuous retribution in the future and attain fruition very quickly, as recorded in Buddhist scriptures.

What distinguishes animals from humans is that the consciousness of animals is relatively ignorant, incapable of deep and subtle analytical thinking, and offers little guidance or strategic planning to the manas. In most cases, their behavior manifests the habitual tendencies of the manas, thus appearing foolish and simple-minded, with little cunning or deceitfulness, lacking in hypocrisy and guile. This is also why humans like certain animals and fear others.

All animals are undergoing the repayment of karmic retribution from past lives. Due to the weak functioning of their consciousness, their capacity to create new karma is limited. Once their karmic retribution is exhausted, they will be reborn in the human realm. It is within the human form that karma is most severely created, because humans possess greater cunning and powerful consciousness, enabling them to generate new karma. The consciousness of desire-realm devas is also powerful, but they are in a phase of experiencing virtuous retribution; there is no need for them to create unwholesome karma, and they create relatively little wholesome karma, primarily enjoying heavenly pleasures.