Are the Mental Activities of Animals Indeterminate?

The mental activities of the eighth consciousness of animals are neutral (avyākṛta), the mental activities of the manas of animals are neutral, but the mental activities of the six consciousnesses of animals are not neutral. The karmic actions created by the six consciousnesses must all be stored as karmic seeds, and all have retribution. For example, when animals have heard the Buddha's teachings, after death they can ascend to the heavens to enjoy blessings—this is recorded in the Buddhist sutras. Animals that are close to humans, living alongside humans, having been immersed in human ways and understanding human affairs, being close to people, can easily be reborn among humans after death, such as cats and dogs. If an animal inadvertently makes offerings to the Three Jewels, it will receive great wholesome retribution in the future and attain realization of the fruits quickly—this is also recorded in the Buddhist sutras.

What distinguishes animals from humans is that the mind consciousness of animals is relatively ignorant and dull, incapable of deep and subtle thinking and analysis, and thus plays a small role in devising strategies and providing guidance for the manas. In most cases, what manifests is simply the functioning of the manas's habitual tendencies; therefore animals also appear ignorant and simple-minded, with relatively little scheming, no hypocrisy, and no craftiness. This is also why humans like some animals and fear others.

All animals are in the process of repaying the retribution from previous lives. Because the power of their mind consciousness is small, their capacity to create new karma is also small. When their retribution is exhausted, they are reborn into the human realm. The human body is the one through which karma is created most seriously, because humans have greater scheming and a powerful mind consciousness, capable of creating new karma. The mind consciousness of devas in the desire realm is also powerful, but they are in the stage of receiving wholesome retribution and have no need to create unwholesome karma; they create relatively little wholesome karma, and mainly enjoy heavenly pleasures.