Karma and Karmic Superknowledge in the Intermediate State

Original text of Volume Nine of the Abhidharmakośa-śāstra: 此中有身。同类相见。若有修得极净天眼。亦能得见。诸生得眼。皆不能观。以极细故。有余师说。天中有眼。具足能见。五趣中有。人鬼傍生地狱中有。见四三二一。谓自下除上。一切通中业通最疾。陵虚自在。是谓通义。通由业得。名为业通。此通势用速故。名疾。中有具得最疾业通。上至世尊。无能遮抑。以业势力。最强盛故。 

Explanation: This passage says that the antarā-bhava (the neutrino-body) is extremely subtle and difficult to see; only beings of the same kind can see it, and only beings who possess an extremely pure divine eye can also see it. Eyes obtained through birth cannot perceive it, because it is extremely subtle. Some teachers say that the divine eye of devas can fully see the antarā-bhava of the five destinies: humans, ghosts, animals, and hell beings with antarā-bhava see four, three, two, or one respectively—meaning each sees those below itself and excludes those above. Among all superknowledges, karmic superknowledge is the swiftest, moving freely through the air—this is the meaning of superknowledge. Superknowledge obtained through karma is called karmic superknowledge; because the force and function of this superknowledge is swift, it is called "swift." The antarā-bhava possesses the swiftest karmic superknowledge, and up to even the World-Honored One, no one can suppress or obstruct it, because the force of karma is the most powerful. 

Among the antarā-bhava's "有" (bhava), the karmic force is the most powerful and the karmic superknowledge is the greatest. Superknowledge cannot prevail over karmic superknowledge; in the face of karmic force, superknowledge becomes useless. Even all the Buddhas cannot change the karmic superknowledge and karmic force of sentient beings. For example, Mahāmaudgalyāyana's superknowledge was vast and boundless, yet when he died he was beaten into a meat patty. The karmic force of the antarā-bhava is the greatest, and even the Buddha can do nothing about it; the consciousness of a dead person can do even less—consciousness has no means whatsoever. And this karmic force and karmic superknowledge correspond to the manas; it is precisely the manas's ignorance or its power of wisdom. Therefore, if one's practice does not reach the manas and cannot change the manas, then a lifetime of cultivation becomes an empty illusion. Even if the mind consciousness exists, it can do nothing at all about the karmic force of the manas. Those who spread the claim that the mind consciousness can attain the fruits and see the mind—what should they say at this point? Would it not be better to hang their mouths on the wall?