Lets use the example of understanding the roots of excessive screen time through dependent origination to illustrate the Twelve Nidanas.
1. Ignorance (avijja): The person lacks understanding of the true nature of reality and the causes and effects of excessive screen time on their mental and physical health.
2. Mental formations (sankhara): Due to ignorance, the person forms habitual patterns of seeking entertainment, stimulation, or escapism through screen time.
3. Consciousness (viññana): The persons consciousness is conditioned by these mental formations, making them prone to seeking screen time for these reasons.
4. Name and form (nama-rupa): The persons body and mind manifest in a way that is susceptible to screen time addiction.
5. The six sense bases (salayatana): The persons sense organs interact with the screens and the digital world.
6. Contact (phassa): The persons contact with digital devices and screens leads to mental stimulation or perceived pleasure.
7. Feeling (vedana): The person experiences a pleasant feeling from engaging with screens and digital devices.
8. Craving (tanha): The person develops cravings for screen time, seeking to satisfy their desire for mental stimulation or pleasure.
9. Clinging (upadana): The persons attachment to screen time intensifies, and they cling to their habit of excessive screen time as a way of dealing with boredom, anxiety, or stress.
10. Becoming (bhava): This clinging to excessive screen time reinforces the persons habitual patterns and karmic tendencies, leading to further indulgence and dependence on screens.
11. Birth (jati): The persons excessive screen time manifests in the form of physical and mental health issues, including eye strain, insomnia, anxiety, or addiction.
12. Old age and death (jara-marana): Unaddressed excessive screen time can lead to physical and mental suffering and perpetuate negative consequences in future situations or even future lives.
In this example, we can see how the Twelve Nidanas apply to the arising and perpetuation of excessive screen time. By understanding the dependent origination of excessive screen time and recognizing the interdependence of the Twelve Links, a person can cultivate mindfulness and work towards breaking the cycle of screen time addiction, ultimately leading to greater mental and physical health and social connection.

How to break cycle at each point:

To break the cycle of excessive screen time addiction based on the Twelve Nidanas, one can work on the following:

1. Ignorance (avijja): Developing understanding and mindfulness of the true nature of reality and the causes and effects of excessive screen time on mental and physical health can reduce ignorance.

2. Mental formations (sankhara): Developing awareness of the underlying desires and attachments that contribute to excessive screen time can help identify and work towards reducing these mental formations.

3. Consciousness (viññana): Developing mindfulness and insight into how the mind is conditioned by habits and patterns can help prevent the mind from being easily swayed towards screen time.

4. Name and form (nama-rupa): Developing mindfulness of physical and mental tendencies that contribute to the ease with which one becomes addicted to screen time can help identify triggers and weaknesses.

5. The six sense bases (salayatana): Practicing restraint of the senses and developing mindfulness of sensory experiences can help reduce the dependence on screens.

6. Contact (phassa): Establishing balance and moderation in the use of screens can help reduce the sense of arousal or pleasure, breaking the craving cycle.

7. Feeling (vedana): Cultivating awareness of the impermanence of pleasant feelings and developing equanimity can help reduce attachment and craving.

8. Craving (tanha): Through mindfulness and insight, one can work on reducing craving towards screen time and developing positive intentions towards other activities.

9. Clinging (upadana): Cultivating mindfulness and insight can help address the underlying attachment to screens and reduce the habit of clinging.

10. Becoming (bhava): By working on reducing clinging and craving, one can gradually weaken the karmic tendencies that lead to recurrent excessive screen time habits.

11. Birth (jati): By reducing excessive screen time habits, one can prevent the physical and mental health issues associated with addiction.

12. Old age and death (jara-marana): By breaking the cycle of addiction to excessive screen time, one can reduce the potential for future suffering and cultivate well-being and peace of mind.

In this way, one can work towards breaking the cycle of excessive screen time addiction by addressing each point in the Twelve Nidanas with mindfulness and insight.