Ignorance gives rise to volitional actions, volitional actions to consciousness, and ultimately to birth, and to old age and death. Each preceding cause gives rise to the subsequent effect, which in turn gives rise to the next cause, and so on. This is dependent origination. The same also applies in reverse. That is, when ignorance stops, volitional actions stop as well, then consciousness, name and form, and so forth, until birth stops, and finally aging and death stop. Dependent origination thus ceases.

~ Luminous Wisdom Book Series 1