Lets use the example of Projection 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 their thoughts and emotions.
2. Mental formations (sankhara): Due to ignorance, the person forms habitual patterns of projecting their thoughts and emotions onto others, rather than acknowledging them as their own.
3. Consciousness (viññana): The persons consciousness is conditioned by these mental formations, making them prone to projecting their thoughts and emotions onto others.
4. Name and form (nama-rupa): The persons body and mind manifest in a way that is susceptible to projection.
5. The six sense bases (salayatana): The persons sense organs and mind interact with the external world and perceive events and situations.
6. Contact (phassa): The person encounters a situation or person that triggers their thoughts and emotions, which they project onto that person or situation.
7. Feeling (vedana): The person experiences a pleasant or unpleasant feeling as a result of the projection.
8. Craving (tanha): The person develops attachment or aversion to the projected thoughts or emotions, reinforcing the pattern of projection.
9. Clinging (upadana): The persons attachment to their projections intensifies, and they cling to their projections as a way of dealing with their own thoughts and emotions.
10. Becoming (bhava): This clinging to projection reinforces the persons habitual patterns and karmic tendencies, perpetuating the cycle of projection.
11. Birth (jati): The persons projection manifests in the form of conflict or misunderstanding with others, reinforcing the cycle of projection and its negative consequences.
12. Old age and death (jara-marana): Unaddressed projection can lead to social and emotional suffering, perpetuating 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 projection. By understanding the dependent origination of projection and recognizing the interdependence of the Twelve Links, a person can cultivate mindfulness and work towards breaking the cycle of projection. By acknowledging their own thoughts and emotions and addressing them inwardly, rather than projecting onto others, they can cultivate more harmonious and compassionate relationships with others.

How to break cycle at each point:

Here are some ways to break the cycle of projection at each point in the Twelve Nidanas of dependent origination:

1. Ignorance (avijja): To break the cycle of projection at the point of ignorance, one can cultivate mindfulness and self-awareness. By acknowledging and examining their own thoughts and emotions instead of projecting them onto others, a person can gain a greater understanding of their own mind and overcome ignorance.

2. Mental formations (sankhara): To break the cycle of projection at the point of mental formations, one can practice mindfulness and recognize the habit of projection. By becoming aware of their own mental patterns and choosing not to engage in projection, a person can interrupt the cycle of projection at an early stage.

3. Consciousness (viññana): To break the cycle of projection at the point of consciousness, one can observe their own experiences and recognize when projection is occurring. By developing greater self-awareness and examining their own perceptions, a person can become more free from the conditioning of their mental formations.

4. Name and form (nama-rupa): To break the cycle of projection at the point of name and form, one can cultivate an understanding of the nature of reality, including the impermanence and interdependence of all phenomena. By recognizing the emptiness of projected thoughts and emotions, one can become less attached to them and more able to see them as they really are.

5. The six sense bases (salayatana): To break the cycle of projection at the point of the six sense bases, one can practice restraint and mindfulness in relation to sensory experiences. By recognizing which experiences trigger projection and choosing not to engage in projection in response to them, a person can gradually weaken the habit of projection.

6. Contact (phassa): To break the cycle of projection at the point of contact, one can work on developing equanimity and non-attachment to sensory experiences. By observing the arising and passing away of experiences without getting caught up in them, one can become less prone to projection.

7. Feeling (vedana): To break the cycle of projection at the point of feeling, one can practice mindfulness of feelings and recognize their impermanence. By recognizing that feelings arise and pass away on their own, independent of external objects, one can reduce the tendency to project feelings onto others.

8. Craving (tanha): To break the cycle of projection at the point of craving, one can practice letting go of attachment to projected thoughts and emotions. By recognizing the suffering that comes from clinging to projections and cultivating compassion for oneself and others, one can release the grip of craving and reduce the tendency to project.

9. Clinging (upadana): To break the cycle of projection at the point of clinging, one can practice non-attachment and non-self. By recognizing that projected thoughts and emotions are not inherent to oneself, but are conditioned by past experiences and mental habits, one can become less attached to them and more free from clinging.

10. Becoming (bhava): To break the cycle of projection at the point of becoming, one can practice non-identification and non-attachment. By recognizing that projections do not define oneself or ones future experiences, one can release the grip of becoming and cultivate a more open, flexible mind.

11. Birth (jati): To break the cycle of projection at the point of birth, one can practice compassionate communication and empathy. By recognizing the suffering that comes from projection and seeking to understand others experiences, one can reduce the likelihood of perpetuating conflict and misunderstanding.

12. Old age and death (jara-marana): To break the cycle of projection at the point of old age and death, one can cultivate wisdom and insight. By recognizing the impermanence and interdependence of all phenomena, one can develop a deeper understanding of the nature of reality and the causes of suffering, ultimately leading to liberation from the cycle of samsara.