Dependent origination is a central concept in Buddhism that explains the interdependent nature of all phenomena. It teaches that everything arises due to specific causes and conditions, which perpetuate the cycle of suffering. The Twelve Nidanas are the links in the chain of dependent origination, describing how ignorance of the Three Universal Truths leads to suffering and how this cycle can be broken to achieve liberation.

1. Ignorance (avijja) is the first link in the chain, referring to a lack of understanding of the true nature of reality, particularly the Three Universal Truths impermanence, unsatisfactoriness (dukkha), and non-self. This ignorance leads to attachment to a false sense of self and beliefs in the inherent existence of things, which causes afflictive emotions and further suffering.

2. Mental formations (sankhara) are the second link, referring to the volitional actions or karmic formations driven by ignorance. Wholesome or unwholesome habits and tendencies shape our actions, thoughts, and perceptions.

3. Consciousness (viññana) is the third link, referring to the mental faculty that cognizes and experiences phenomena. Different types of consciousness arise due to mental formations and condition our experiences of reality.

4. Name and form (nama-rupa) are the fourth link, referring to the psychophysical constituents that make up a sentient being. Name refers to the mental aspect, such as thoughts and feelings, while form refers to the physical aspect, such as the body and sensory organs.

5. The six sense bases (salayatana) are the fifth link, referring to the physical senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch) and the mental faculty (mind). They act as the contact points between the external world and the internal psychophysical constituents of the sentient being.

6. Contact (phassa) is the sixth link, referring to the interaction of the sense bases with their respective objects. Through contact, consciousness becomes aware of the external world and forms perceptions of it.

7. Feeling (vedana) is the seventh link, referring to the pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral sensations that arise from contact. These feelings are conditioned by previous mental formations, and can give rise to craving or aversion.

8. Craving (tanha) is the eighth link, referring to the desire or attachment to pleasant feelings and aversion to unpleasant feelings. It arises due to ignorance of the Three Universal Truths and the belief in the inherent existence of self and phenomena.

9. Clinging (upadana) is the ninth link, referring to intensified attachment to objects of craving, leading to further entanglement in samsara.

10. Becoming (bhava) is the tenth link, referring to the karmic process of becoming that results from clinging, leading to the formation of a new existence.

11. Birth (jati) is the eleventh link, referring to the actual birth or coming into existence of a new being.

12. Old age and death (jara-marana) are the twelfth link, referring to the aging and eventual death of the being, leading to further rebirth and continued suffering.

By understanding and breaking this cycle through wisdom, mindfulness, and positive karmic habits, one can attain liberation and be free from the cycle of samsara.