Let us use the example of a person having resistance to change to illustrate the Twelve Nidanas of dependent origination.
1. Ignorance (avijja): The person lacks understanding of the true nature of reality, including the impermanence and uncertainty of all phenomena, and fails to recognize that resistance to change is a natural part of human experience.
2. Mental formations (sankhara): Due to ignorance, the person has formed habitual patterns of avoiding change and seeking comfort in the familiarity of their current situation.
3. Consciousness (viññana): The persons consciousness is conditioned by these mental formations, making them prone to experiencing resistance to change.
4. Name and form (nama-rupa): The persons body and mind manifest in a way that is susceptible to resistance to change.
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 a situation or stimulus (e.g., a proposed change in their workplace) that triggers resistance through their sense bases.
7. Feeling (vedana): The person experiences an unpleasant feeling (e.g., fear, anxiety, stress) as a result of the contact with the proposed change.
8. Craving (tanha): The person develops a desire to maintain the status quo and avoid the uncertainty and potential challenges that come with change.
9. Clinging (upadana): The persons attachment to their current situation intensifies, and they cling to their resistance as a way of dealing with the uncertainty of the proposed change.
10. Becoming (bhava): This clinging to resistance reinforces the persons habitual patterns and karmic tendencies, perpetuating the cycle of resistance to change.
11. Birth (jati): The persons resistance to change manifests in the form of self-sabotaging behaviors or active efforts to block the proposed change, reinforcing the cycle of mental formations and karmic consequences.
12. Old age and death (jara-marana): The persons resistance to change, if left unaddressed, can lead to stagnation and missed opportunities for growth, 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 resistance to change. By understanding the dependent origination of resistance and recognizing the interdependence of the Twelve Links, a person can cultivate mindfulness and work towards breaking the cycle of resistance, ultimately leading to greater adaptability and resilience in the face of change.

How to break cycle at each point:

Here are some ways that the cycle of dependent origination can be broken at each point in the context of resistance to change:

1. Ignorance (avijja): Educating oneself about the nature of impermanence and the inevitability of change can help to reduce ignorance about the true nature of reality. By recognizing that change is a natural part of life, a person can begin to let go of the rigid attachment to the status quo that feeds resistance to change.

2. Mental formations (sankhara): Developing new patterns of thought and behavior can help to reduce the habitual patterns that drive resistance to change. By intentionally cultivating a mindset of openness and adaptability, a person can start to create new mental formations that support acceptance and growth.

3. Consciousness (viññana): Practicing mindfulness and awareness can help to reduce the conditioned responses that lead to resistance. By cultivating greater awareness of ones thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations, a person can create space for greater clarity and discernment in the face of changes.

4. Name and form (nama-rupa): Engaging in practices that support physical and emotional wellbeing can help to increase resilience and flexibility. By taking care of oneself and nurturing a strong, healthy body and mind, a person can be better equipped to face the challenges of change.

5. The six sense bases (salayatana): Developing skillful means for sensing and perceiving the world can help to reduce the perception of threat that accompanies resistance to change. By cultivating a clearer, more nuanced understanding of the sensory input that fuels resistance, a person can begin to create a more wholesome relationship with their environment.

6. Contact (phassa): Practicing mindful awareness of the present moment can help to reduce the intensity of the reactive response that arises from contact. By staying present and centered in the face of change, a person can mitigate the tendency to feel threatened and overwhelmed.

7. Feeling (vedana): Developing equanimity and spaciousness towards feelings can help to reduce the craving and aversion that drives resistance. By learning to observe feelings without getting caught up in them, a person can begin to cultivate greater acceptance and resilience.

8. Craving (tanha): Developing a more wholesome relationship with desires can help to reduce the intensity of resistance. By learning to recognize the underlying causes and conditions of craving, a person can begin to let go of their attachment to the status quo and be more open to change.

9. Clinging (upadana): Practicing non-attachment and letting go can help to reduce the intensity of clinging to resistance. By recognizing the impermanence of all phenomena and cultivating a sense of detachment from outcomes, a person can be more open and adaptable to change.

10. Becoming (bhava): Developing a sense of non-doing and receptivity can help to reduce the karmic consequences that arise from clinging. By letting go of the notion of becoming and cultivating a sense of presence and acceptance in the moment, a person can create a space for growth and transformation that is not bound by past habits and tendencies.

11. Birth (jati): Practicing self-compassion and self-care can help to reduce the self-sabotaging behaviors that reinforce resistance. By recognizing the power of self-talk and cultivating a nurturing, supportive inner voice, a person can start to counteract the habits that perpetuate resistance.

12. Old age and death (jara-marana): Practicing acceptance and letting go can help to reduce the suffering that arises from missed opportunities for growth. By recognizing that change is inevitable and embracing the impermanence of all things, a person can create a sense of freedom and ease that is not bound by fear or resistance.