Plants Are Not Sentient Beings

Plants have growth periods and growth rings; within their lives there is no activity of the seventh or eighth consciousness. Therefore, plants are not sentient beings, and not being sentient beings, they have no rebirth in the cycle of transmigration. They are the circumstantial retribution environment upon which sentient beings depend for survival, brought about by the karmic power of sentient beings. If sentient beings have merit, the plants they attract through karma will all be abundant and precious; otherwise, they will be barren and withered.