Just means that craving what propels a being into renewed existence -- a truth which we already know from the twelve nidanas. I don't think it necessarily refers to a kind of bardo in which a dematerialized consciousness hangs out for some indefinite period of time, feeding on craving.
It seems to me the sutta is related to
MN 72, which compares the Tathagata to a fire that has gone out -- hence he does not reappear anywhere. By contrast, for an unawakened being the fire of craving still burns, providing the cause for further reappearance.
All this further demonstrates that rebirth can be accounted for within the framework of D.O., without the need to resort to a soul theory, subtle body, immaterial mind, etc.
Alex123 wrote:What if by "rūpa" we take it as matter as it is experienced rather than ontological matter of materialism. Then with this phenomenological interpretation arūpa loka poses no problem. There is no experience of matter there.
That sounds like a convincing explanation, to me at least.