Nidāna

Nidāna (devanāgarī: निदान) is a Sanskrit and Pali word that means "cause, foundation, source or origin." In Buddhism the term is associated to the concept of dependent origination (pratītyasamutpāda) that explains the existence of objects and phenomena as being due to a chain of 12 causes/effects called "nidānas."

The Twelve Nidanas

1- From spiritual Ignorance (avidyā) arises mental formations (saṃskāra). 2- From mental formations arises Consciousness (vijñāna). 3- From consciousness arises Mind name and form (nāmarūpa). 4- From name and form arise the sense organs and their objects (Ṣaḍāyatana). 5- From sense organs and their objects arises contact (Sparśa). 6- From contact arises sensation (vedanā). 7- From sensation arises craving (tṛṣṇā). 8- From craving arises clinging (upādāna). 9- From clinging arises becoming (bhava). 10- From becoming arises birth (jāti). 11 & 12- From birth arise aging and dying (jarāmaraṇa).

Further reading

• Triad at Theosopedia