Lets use the example of self-pity to illustrate the Twelve Nidanas of dependent origination.

1. Ignorance (avijja): The person lacks understanding of the true nature of reality and the power of their own mind to transform their suffering.
2. Mental formations (sankhara): Due to ignorance, the person has formed habitual patterns of feeling sorry for themselves, seeking pity and sympathy from others instead of taking responsibility for their suffering.
3. Consciousness (viññana): The persons consciousness is conditioned by these mental formations, making them prone to experiencing self-pity.
4. Name and form (nama-rupa): The persons body and mind manifest in a way that is susceptible to self-pity.
5. The six sense bases (salayatana): The persons sense organs interact with the external world.
6. Contact (phassa): The person encounters situations or stimuli that trigger self-pity, whether it be a personal difficulty or a perceived injustice.
7. Feeling (vedana): The person experiences an unpleasant feeling as a result of the situation, leading to a sense of victimhood.
8. Craving (tanha): The person develops a craving for comfort and validation from others, seeking pity and sympathy instead of taking action to address their suffering.
9. Clinging (upadana): The persons attachment to self-pity intensifies, perpetuating the cycle of seeking external validation and avoiding responsibility.
10. Becoming (bhava): This clinging to self-pity reinforces the persons habitual patterns and karmic tendencies, leading to continued identification with a sense of victimhood and helplessness.
11. Birth (jati): The persons self-pity manifests in the form of a victim identity.
12. Old age and death (jara-marana): If left unaddressed, the persons self-pity can lead to physical, mental, and emotional suffering, perpetuating negative consequences in future situations and future lives.

In this example, we can see how the Twelve Nidanas apply to the arising and perpetuation of self-pity. By recognizing the interdependence of the Twelve Links, a person can cultivate mindfulness and work towards breaking the cycle of self-pity, ultimately leading to greater self-awareness and empowerment over their own suffering.

How to break cycle at each point:

To break the cycle of self-pity at each point of the Twelve Nidanas of dependent origination, one could:

1. Ignorance (avijja): Recognize that they have the power to change their perspective and take responsibility for their own suffering by developing an understanding of the impermanence and emptiness of phenomena.
2. Mental formations (sankhara): Cultivate positive habits of thinking and feeling by focusing on gratitude, compassion, and self-care instead of thinking negatively about themselves and seeking pity from others.
3. Consciousness (viññana): Develop mindfulness and insight into the workings of consciousness to recognize habitual patterns and make better choices in response to difficulties or challenges.
4. Name and form (nama-rupa): Be mindful of how their mind and body manifest in response to challenges and actively work to change negative patterns.
5. The six sense bases (salayatana): Practice restraint of the senses to avoid getting caught up in unwholesome sensory experiences.
6. Contact (phassa): Be aware of situations or stimuli that trigger self-pity and work to respond in a positive way.
7. Feeling (vedana): Practice accepting difficult feelings without attaching to them or seeking validation from others.
8. Craving (tanha): Develop a sense of inner comfort through self-care and mindfulness meditation instead of seeking comfort from external sources.
9. Clinging (upadana): Practice letting go of attachment to self-pity by cultivating self-awareness and focusing on positive habits.
10. Becoming (bhava): Cultivate positive habits and karmic tendencies by practicing ethical conduct and mental discipline.
11. Birth (jati): Recognize the power of identity and work to develop a positive, empowered sense of self instead of identifying with a sense of victimhood and helplessness.
12. Old age and death (jara-marana): Reduce physical, mental, and emotional suffering by developing positive habits and breaking the cycle of self-pity.