Karma and Karmic Dynamics in the Intermediate State

Ninth Volume of the Abhidharma-kośa Śāstra Original Text: Among these, the intermediate existence is visible only to beings of the same kind. If one has cultivated and attained the supremely pure divine eye, one can also perceive it. All ordinary eyes are incapable of perceiving them, due to their extreme subtlety. Some other teachers say: The divine eye of the intermediate existence is fully capable of seeing the intermediate existences of the five destinies. The intermediate existences of humans, ghosts, animals, and hell beings see four, three, two, and one (destinies) respectively, meaning they see those below themselves but not those above. Among all supernormal powers, karmic supernormal powers are the swiftest. Traversing the void freely—this is the meaning of supernormal power. Supernormal powers attained through karma are called karmic supernormal powers. The function of this power is swift, hence it is called 'swift'. The intermediate existence possesses the swiftest karmic supernormal powers. Even up to the World-Honored One (Buddha), none can obstruct or suppress it, because the power of karma is the most potent. 

Explanation: This passage explains that the intermediate existence (antarābhava) is extremely subtle and difficult to perceive. Only beings of the same kind or those possessing an exceedingly pure divine eye can see it. The divine eye of heavenly beings can perceive the intermediate existences of beings in the other five destinies; beings without the divine eye cannot see them. Therefore, when a person dies and enters the intermediate existence, ordinary supernormal powers cannot perceive it. Some people speculate, saying things like "this person has been reborn in the Pure Land," etc.—these are all ridiculous claims. No one possesses such a pure divine eye to see the intermediate existence, let alone to see a deceased person being reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss. 

Within the state of the intermediate existence, karmic power is the most potent, and karmic supernormal powers are the greatest. Supernormal powers cannot oppose karmic supernormal powers; in the face of karmic power, supernormal powers are useless. Even all the Buddhas cannot alter the karmic supernormal powers and karmic force of sentient beings. For example, Mahāmaudgalyāyana possessed vast, boundless supernormal powers, yet when he died, he was crushed into a pulp. The karmic force of the intermediate existence is the greatest; even the Buddha cannot do anything about it, and the consciousness of the deceased person is even less capable—the conscious mind has not the slightest means to affect it. And this karmic force, these karmic supernormal powers, correspond precisely to the mental faculty (manas). They are the power of ignorance or wisdom within the mental faculty. Therefore, if cultivation does not reach this level of the mental faculty and fails to transform the mental faculty, all the cultivation of a lifetime becomes an illusion. Even if consciousness exists, it is utterly incapable of affecting the karmic force of the mental faculty. As for those who propagate the idea that consciousness attains the fruit of enlightenment or realizes the mind—what explanation can they offer now? Shouldn't they hang their heads in shame?