The twelve links of dependent rising describe the mechanism whereby we perpetuate our uncontrollably recurring rebirth with all its shortcomings. Even if we don’t accept rebirth, this analysis of rebirth shows us a way to stop repeating our self-created problems in life – don’t overreact to up-and-down moods. Sometimes we feel happy and sometimes not. There’s nothing special about that. If we don’t cling to that happiness when it arises, as if we could prevent it from ever ending, or get depressed when unhappiness comes, as if it will last forever, we can prevent ourselves from acting in habitual self-destructive ways. This is the practical application we can learn from studying the twelve links of dependent arising.