Lets use the example of a person experiencing a lack of compassion to illustrate the Twelve Nidanas of dependent origination.
1. Ignorance (avijja): The person lacks understanding of the true nature of reality, including the nature of suffering and the interconnectedness of beings.
2. Mental formations (sankhara): Due to ignorance, the person has formed habitual patterns of responding to others with indifference or lack of concern.
3. Consciousness (viññana): The persons consciousness is conditioned by these mental formations, making them prone to experiencing apathy or lack of compassion.
4. Name and form (nama-rupa): The persons mind and body (psychophysical constituents) manifest in a way that is susceptible to lack of compassion.
5. The six sense bases (salayatana): The persons sense organs (sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch) and mind interact with the external world.
6. Contact (phassa): The person encounters situations or people in their life that may trigger a lack of compassion.
7. Feeling (vedana): The person experiences a neutral feeling, as they are not moved to respond with compassion or concern.
8. Craving (tanha): The person develops a sense of indifference or a lack of attachment to the situation or person in need of compassion.
9. Clinging (upadana): The persons attachment to their indifference or lack of compassion intensifies, reinforcing their habitual patterns.
10. Becoming (bhava): This clinging to lack of compassion reinforces the persons habitual patterns and karmic tendencies, perpetuating the cycle of apathy.
11. Birth (jati): The persons lack of compassion manifests in their thoughts and behaviors, creating distance and disconnection from others, reinforcing the cycle of mental formations and karmic consequences.
12. Old age and death (jara-marana): The persons lack of compassion may lead to a sense of isolation and disconnection, contributing to ongoing suffering and negative consequences in future situations or even future lives.
This example illustrates how the Twelve Nidanas can apply to the development and perpetuation of a lack of compassion. By understanding the dependent origination of our habitual patterns of mind and recognizing the interdependence of the Twelve Links, we can cultivate mindfulness, right intention, and compassion to break the cycle of apathy and develop greater connectedness and empathy towards others.

How to break cycle at each point:

To break the cycle of lack of compassion in the context of the Twelve Nidanas, one can practice mindfulness and cultivate compassion in the following ways:

1. Ignorance (avijja): Develop an understanding of the link between ones own suffering and the suffering of others. Recognize the interdependence of all beings and the importance of treating others with compassion and kindness.

2. Mental Formations (sankhara): Cultivate positive mental formations by consistently practicing compassion towards oneself and others. Challenge negative habits and thought patterns that lead to indifference and apathy towards others.

3. Consciousness (viññana): Develop awareness of ones habitual patterns of mind and their impact on others. Practice mindfulness to become more attuned to the interconnectedness of all things.

4. Name and Form (nama-rupa): Recognize the ways in which ones mental and physical makeup have been conditioned by habitual patterns of indifference. Cultivate new habits and qualities, such as kindness and generosity, to create positive change.

5. The Six Sense Bases (salayatana): Use sensory experiences as opportunities to develop compassion and kindness towards others. Recognize the ways in which ones senses are interconnected with the external world and use this awareness to cultivate an appreciation for others.

6. Contact (phassa): Respond to situations and people that trigger indifference with compassion and kindness. Use these moments as opportunities to develop a greater sense of interconnectedness with others.

7. Feeling (vedana): Practice responding with compassion towards neutral feelings, recognizing that indifference and apathy towards others perpetuate the cycle of suffering.

8. Craving (tanha): Practice non-attachment to pleasant experiences and develop a sense of detachment towards unpleasant experiences. Use this quality of non-attachment to cultivate greater openness and compassion towards others.

9. Clinging (upadana): Let go of attachment to indifference and cultivate a sense of curiosity towards others. Use this curiosity to learn more about others and connect with them on a deeper level.

10. Becoming (bhava): Cultivate an identity based on kindness and compassion towards others, rather than one based on indifference or apathy. Practice positive habits and thought patterns consistently to reinforce this new identity.

11. Birth (jati): Let go of the negative thought patterns and habits that perpetuate a lack of compassion. Instead, focus on cultivating an identity based on kindness and compassion towards others.

12. Old Age and Death (jara-marana): Recognize that developing compassion towards others can reduce suffering and improve quality of life, for oneself and for others. Use this understanding as motivation to consistently practice compassion and kindness towards oneself and others.

By breaking the cycle of lack of compassion at each of these Twelve Nidanas, one can develop greater awareness and compassion towards oneself and others, leading to a more interconnected and harmonious existence.