The article discusses the nature of vengefulness and how it arises from the Twelve Nidanas of dependent origination. The Twelve Nidanas describes the twelve interconnected links that give rise to mental and physical phenomena, including suffering. The article examines each of the twelve links and how they manifest in vengeful tendencies. It also provides practical steps to break free from vengeful tendencies by cultivating mindfulness, positive mental habits and detachment from negative patterns.

Ignorance (avijja), the first link, refers to a lack of understanding of the interconnectedness of all beings and the impermanence of all phenomena. This lack of understanding can cause someone to seek revenge or hold grudges against others. Mental formations (sankhara), the second link, are habitual patterns that arise from our underlying beliefs and attitudes. Vengeful tendencies can arise from habitually seeking revenge or holding grudges against others.

Consciousness (viññana), the third link, is conditioned by our mental formations, shaping the way we perceive and react to situations that trigger our vengeful tendencies. Name and form (nama-rupa), the fourth link, refers to our mental and physical makeup, which can make us more susceptible to vengeful tendencies.

The six sense bases (salayatana), our five physical senses and mental faculties, interact with the external world and perceive harm or injustice that trigger our vengeful tendencies (contact - phassa). Unpleasant feelings (vedana) then arise, and we develop a strong desire (craving - tanha) to seek revenge or hold grudges as a way to alleviate our discomfort. Attachment to this desire (clinging - upadana) reinforces our vengeful tendencies, leading to the formation of new negative karmic patterns (becoming - bhava).

Left unchecked, vengeful thoughts and emotions manifest in harmful actions towards others (birth - jati), perpetuating the cycle of mental formations and consequences. If this cycle is not addressed, it can lead to physical, mental, and emotional suffering and perpetuate negative consequences in future situations or future lives (old age and death - jara-marana).

To break free from the cycle of vengefulness, we can cultivate awareness, insight, and positive mental habits while detaching ourselves from negative patterns of thought, emotion, and behavior. We can develop mindfulness and compassion, weaken our tendencies towards vengefulness, and replace negative thoughts and desires with positive ones. These steps can help us break free from the cycle of vengefulness, attain liberation from suffering (nirvana), and avoid future rebirth and continued suffering (samsara).