Four elements that make an action complete

Four elements that make an action complete —

1. the basis (Skt. vastu; Wyl. gzhi)
2. the intention (Skt. āśaya)
3. the execution (Skt. prayoga)
4. the completion (Skt. niṣṭhāgamana; Wyl. mthar thug)

An example is given of the negative action of taking life in the Words of My Perfect Teacher:

Take the example of a hunter killing a wild animal. First of all, he sees an actual stag, or musk-deer, or whatever it might be, and identifies the animal beyond any doubt: his knowing that it is a living creature is the basis for the act. Next, the wish to kill it arises: the idea of killing it is the intention to carry out the act. Then he shoots the animal in a vital point with a gun, bow and arrow or any other weapon: the physical action of killing is the execution of the act. Thereupon the animal's vital functions cease and the conjunction of its body and mind is sundered: that is the final completion of the act of taking a life.

Every action has these four elements therefore how they come together determines whether an action yields positive, negative, or mixed results for the future.