Lets use the example of self-absorption to illustrate the Twelve Nidanas of dependent origination:
1. Ignorance (avijja): The person lacks understanding of the true nature of reality and the interconnectedness of all things.
2. Mental formations (sankhara): Due to ignorance, the person forms habitual patterns of being self-absorbed, focusing only on their own thoughts and feelings.
3. Consciousness (viññana): The persons consciousness is conditioned by these mental formations, making them prone to self-absorption.
4. Name and form (nama-rupa): The persons body and mind (psychophysical constituents) manifest in a way that is susceptible to self-absorption.
5. The six sense bases (salayatana): The persons sense organs (sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, and mind) interact with the external world, but the focus is on themselves and not on others.
6. Contact (phassa): The person encounters a stimulus in the outside world, yet they only see things from their own perspective.
7. Feeling (vedana): The person experiences feelings that reinforce their self-absorption, like pleasure or discomfort.
8. Craving (tanha): The person desires more experiences that reinforce their sense of self, and they feel that they deserve more attention than others.
9. Clinging (upadana): The persons attachment to their self-centered perspective intensifies, and they cling to the belief that they are more important than others.
10. Becoming (bhava): This clinging to self-absorption reinforces the persons habitual patterns and karmic tendencies.
11. Birth (jati): The persons self-absorption manifests in the form of selfish behavior that only benefits themselves and not others.
12. Old age and death (jara-marana): Unaddressed self-absorption can lead to physical, mental, and emotional 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 self-absorption. By understanding the dependent origination of self-absorption and recognizing the interdependence of the Twelve Links, a person can cultivate mindfulness and work towards breaking the cycle of self-absorption, ultimately leading to a more compassionate and interconnected view of the world.

How to break cycle at each point:

Here are some ways to break the cycle at each point, as described in the context of self-absorption:

1. Ignorance (avijja): By developing an understanding of the interconnected nature of reality, a person can shift their perspective from self-absorption to a more compassionate and empathetic view. This involves learning about the experiences of others and recognizing the ways in which their actions affect others.

2. Mental formations (sankhara): By cultivating positive mental states such as compassion, generosity, and wisdom, a person can shift their habitual patterns of thoughts and behaviors away from self-centeredness and towards actions that benefit others.

3. Consciousness (viññana): By practicing mindfulness and developing awareness of the present moment, a person can gain insight into the ways in which their focus on themselves affects their perception of the world. This awareness can help to shift their consciousness towards a more interconnected view of reality.

4. Name and form (nama-rupa): By recognizing the impermanence and interdependent nature of all phenomena, a person can stop identifying so strongly with their physical and mental characteristics. This can help to shift their focus away from themselves and towards a more connected view of reality.

5. The six sense bases (salayatana): By practicing sensory restraint and developing awareness of the fact that all sensory experiences are impermanent and interdependent, a person can break the cycle of self-absorption at the level of the sense bases.

6. Contact (phassa): By recognizing the ways in which their mental states influence their perception of sensory contact, a person can cultivate mindfulness of the impact of their thoughts and feelings on their experience of the world. This can help to break the cycle of self-absorption at the level of contact.

7. Feeling (vedana): By developing awareness of the impermanence and interdependent nature of feelings, a person can weaken the hold that pleasurable or uncomfortable feelings have on their sense of self-importance. This can help to prevent the development of craving and clinging.

8. Craving (tanha): By developing awareness of the nature of craving and its relationship to suffering, a person can train their mind to let go of desires that are rooted in self-absorption. This involves recognizing that all phenomena are impermanent and interdependent and that clinging to any particular experience causes suffering.

9. Clinging (upadana): By developing mindfulness and insight into the nature of clinging and its relationship to suffering, a person can weaken the habit of self-absorption and reduce attachment to self-centered patterns of thought and behavior.

10. Becoming (bhava): By cultivating positive mental states and breaking the habit of self-absorption, a person can shift their karmic tendencies towards actions that benefit all beings. This can help to break the cycle of negative patterns and lead to positive outcomes.

11. Birth (jati): By recognizing the interconnected nature of reality and the ways in which actions affect all beings, a person can shift their behavior to be more compassionate and empathetic towards others. This can prevent the development of negative cycles of self-absorption.

12. Old age and death (jara-marana): By cultivating positive mental states and living in accordance with the principles of interconnectedness and impermanence, a person can reduce the suffering associated with old age and death. By breaking the cycle of negative patterns and cultivating positive habits, a person can lead a more meaningful and fulfilling life.