Lets use the example of the silent treatment to illustrate the Twelve Nidanas of dependent origination.

1. Ignorance (avijja): The person lacks understanding of the true nature of reality and the effects of their behavior on others.

2. Mental formations (sankhara): Due to ignorance or a lack of skillful means to communicate, the person forms a habitual pattern of using the silent treatment as a way to communicate or control others.

3. Consciousness (viññana): The persons consciousness is conditioned by these mental formations, making them prone to using the silent treatment in future situations.

4. Name and form (nama-rupa): The persons body and mind manifest in a way that is susceptible to using the silent treatment as a coping mechanism.

5. The six sense bases (salayatana): The persons sense organs interact with the external world.

6. Contact (phassa): The person experiences a situation or stimulus (e.g., a disagreement or argument) that triggers the urge to use the silent treatment.

7. Feeling (vedana): The person experiences an unpleasant feeling as a result of the contact with the other person, such as frustration or anger.

8. Craving (tanha): The person develops a strong desire to create distance or control the other persons behavior through the use of the silent treatment.

9. Clinging (upadana): The persons attachment to the idea of the silent treatment intensifies, perpetuating the cycle of craving and clinging.

10. Becoming (bhava): This clinging reinforces the persons habitual patterns and karmic tendencies, leading to further use of the silent treatment in future situations.

11. Birth (jati): The persons use of the silent treatment manifests in the form of a strained or broken relationship, reinforcing the cycle of mental formations and karmic consequences.

12. Old age and death (jara-marana): The persons use of the silent treatment, if left unaddressed, can lead to further negative consequences and future suffering in relationships.

In this example, we can see how the Twelve Nidanas apply to the use and perpetuation of the silent treatment as a form of communication or control in relationships. By understanding the interdependence of the Twelve Links and recognizing the effects of their actions, a person can cultivate mindfulness and communication skills to break the cycle of the silent treatment and lead to greater peace and harmony in their relationships.

How to break cycle at each point:

To break the cycle of the silent treatment at each point, we can apply the following:

1. Ignorance (avijja): One can break this cycle by cultivating greater self-awareness and understanding the impact of our behavior on others. By practicing empathy and non-judgment, we can cultivate a greater understanding of the suffering caused by the silent treatment and develop more skillful means of communication.

2. Mental formations (sankhara): One can break this cycle by recognizing habitual patterns and developing alternate strategies for dealing with conflict or tension. By learning new communication skills and modeling healthy relationships, we can break the habit of using the silent treatment as a means of control.

3. Consciousness (vijnana): One can break this cycle by cultivating mindfulness and awareness of the automatic responses that may arise in response to conflict or tension. By recognizing the habitual patterns that perpetuate suffering, we can develop more freedom in how we respond.

4. Name and form (nama-rupa): One can break this cycle by recognizing the underlying emotional tendencies or traumas that may be contributing to the use of the silent treatment. By practicing self-compassion and seeking support when needed, we can address these issues and develop healthier coping mechanisms.

5. The six sense bases (salayatana): One can break this cycle by becoming more mindful of the senses and how they interact with the external world. By practicing restraint of the senses and avoiding triggers that may lead to conflict, we can reduce the likelihood of perpetuating negative cycles.

6. Contact (phassa): One can break this cycle by recognizing triggering situations and developing alternate means of responding. By developing healthy communication skills and strategies, we can reduce the likelihood of resorting to the silent treatment in response to conflict.

7. Feeling (vedana): One can break this cycle by recognizing the unpleasant feelings that arise in response to conflict and practicing self-compassion. By developing healthy coping mechanisms, we can reduce the intensity of these emotions and avoid perpetuating negative cycles.

8. Craving (tanha): One can break this cycle by questioning the desire to control or create distance through the use of the silent treatment. By recognizing the harm caused by this behavior and cultivating empathy for the other persons experience, we can develop more wholesome desires and intentions.

9. Clinging (upadana): One can break this cycle by recognizing the attachment to the behavior and developing alternate means of responding. By practicing self-reflection and seeking support when needed, we can address the underlying issues that may be contributing to this attachment.

10. Becoming (bhava): One can break this cycle by recognizing the habitual patterns and developing alternate strategies for responding to conflict. By cultivating healthy communication skills and modeling healthy relationships, we can reduce the likelihood of resorting to the silent treatment in future situations.

11. Birth (jati): One can break this cycle by recognizing the impact of our behavior on others and taking responsibility for how we respond to conflict. By developing empathy and seeking to repair relationships that may have been impacted by the silent treatment, we can reduce the potential for further suffering.

12. Old age and death (jara-marana): One can break this cycle by cultivating a commitment to healthy communication and relationships. By recognizing the interconnectedness of our actions and the consequences they may have on others, we can cultivate greater awareness and empathy, reducing the potential for further suffering.