Is the mental activity of animals indeterminate (avyākṛta)?

The mental conduct of the eighth consciousness of animals is neutral (avyākṛta), the mental conduct of the manas of animals is neutral, but the mental conduct of the six consciousnesses of animals is not neutral. The karmic actions created by the six consciousnesses must all be stored as karmic seeds, and all carry karmic retribution. For example, when animals have heard the Buddha's Dharma, after death they can ascend to the heavens to enjoy blessings—this is recorded in the Buddhist sūtras. Animals that are close to humans, living alongside humans, having been immersed in human ways and understanding human affairs, are close to humans, and after death they can easily be reborn among humans, such as cats and dogs and the like. When animals unintentionally make offerings to the Three Jewels, in the future they can obtain great wholesome retribution and realize the fruits quickly—this is also recorded in the Buddhist sūtras.

What distinguishes animals from humans is that the consciousness of animals is rather ignorant and dull, incapable of deep and subtle thinking and analysis, and plays only a small role in offering strategies and guidance to the manas. In most cases, what manifests is simply the operation of the manas's habitual tendencies; therefore animals also appear ignorant and simple-hearted, with relatively little scheming, without hypocrisy, and without craftiness. This is also the reason why humans are fond of some animals and afraid of others.

All animals are in the midst of repaying the karmic retribution of their past lives. Because the power of their 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 most heavily engaged in creating karma, because humans have considerable scheming and a powerful consciousness, capable of creating new karma. The consciousness of desire-realm devas is also powerful, but they are in a stage of receiving wholesome retribution and have no need to create unwholesome karma; they create relatively little wholesome karma, and their main activity is enjoying heavenly pleasures.