Buddhism

There are many destinations where Cooperating Volunteers collaborates, with Buddhism as the main religion.

Among these destinations are Cambodia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Laos, and Vietnam, where Buddhism is the majority religion. Additionally, in other countries like Nepal and India, Buddhism is practiced as a significant minority religion.

Buddhism is the fourth-largest religion in the world, following Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism, with an estimated 500 million followers worldwide. Although the majority of Buddhists reside in Asia, this religion also has a significant presence in other countries, including the United States, which boasts about 6 million followers.

Buddhism, a non-theistic religion that does not adhere to the belief in a creator god, is also regarded as both a philosophy and a moral discipline. It is based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, a sage who lived in northeast India in the 6th century BC. According to legend, he was a former Hindu prince. After years of spiritual search and meditation, he achieved enlightenment, becoming Buddha, which means ‘the awakened one’. His teachings were based on: ‘The Four Noble Truths’, ‘The Noble Eightfold Path’, and the concept of Nirvana.

Buddhism

THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS

They represent the core of Buddhism, the diagnosis and solution of human suffering according to Buddha’s teaching.

  • The truth of suffering (Dukkha): Life is marked by suffering, dissatisfaction, or insatiability. Nothing is permanent or perfect, leading to a state of incompleteness and discomfort.
  • The origin of suffering (Samudaya): Suffering has a cause, which is desire or attachment. It is our tendency to cling to things, wanting them to be a certain way or not be another way.
  • The cessation of suffering (Nirodha): There is a possibility of ceasing suffering by overcoming desire and attachment. This is achieved by reaching Nirvana, a state of liberation and inner peace.
  • The path to the cessation of suffering (Magga): The Noble Eightfold Path is the guide to overcoming suffering and achieving liberation. This path consists of eight aspects: right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration.

THE NOBLE EIGHTFOLD PATH

The Noble Eightfold Path is another central part of Buddhist teaching. It represents the path to the cessation of suffering and the realization of Nirvana and is comprised of eight aspects:

  • Right view: Understanding reality as it is, including the Four Noble Truths.
  • Right intention: Developing ethical and altruistic intentions, renouncing greed, anger, and ill will.
  • Right speech: Refraining from lying, speaking in a hurtful or divisive manner, and speaking frivolously or meaninglessly.
  • Right action: Refraining from harming others, stealing, inappropriate sexual conduct, and unethical behavior in general.
  • Right livelihood: Earning a living in an ethical manner without causing harm to others.
  • Right effort: Cultivating a positive will and dedication in the practice of good and avoidance of evil.
  • Right mindfulness: Being fully aware of the present moment, observing the body, sensations, mind, and mental objects.
  • Right concentration: Developing a focused and concentrated mind through meditation, achieving mental absorption states (jhana) and eventually liberation (Nirvana).

Buddhism

THE NIRVANA

Nirvana represents the state of liberation from suffering and the cycle of rebirths (samsara). It is the ultimate goal of Buddhism, where a person reaches a state of complete inner peace, serenity, and freedom from desires, achieving spiritual awakening and enlightenment.

Nirvana is not seen as a place but as a state of being that transcends the limitations of the material world, where there is no suffering, desire, or sense of self. It is a state of non-attachment, equanimity, and realization of the true nature of reality.

Achieving Nirvana implies a deep understanding and acceptance of the impermanence of things, the interconnectedness of all beings, and the realization of the emptiness of the self. It is a state of being beyond concepts and dualities, where one experiences ultimate freedom and peace.

These are just some of the aspects that make up the rich tapestry of Buddhism.

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UNIVERSITY PRACTICES

Our volunteers will be able to validate university credits with the aim of traveling in a more responsible and economical way.

What does volunteering focused on university practices involve?

At Cooperating Volunteers, we make agreements with different universities to validate university credits with the aim of traveling in a more responsible and economical way.

The specialties we work with are extensive: medical volunteering, nursing, education, social work, psychology, physiotherapy, engineering, architecture…

The practices can be carried out in our designated destinations for this purpose, as well as in Spain.

If you choose an international destination, it’s a unique way to live an unforgettable and enriching experience, as you will have the opportunity to continue your education in another country, with a completely different culture.

Stepping out of our comfort zone and being part of the various projects at the destination will allow us to grow both personally and professionally, creating a more extensive curriculum.

And we are fully convinced that this experience will accompany you throughout your life.

You will be able to visit hospitals, schools, centers, orphanages, and participate directly and actively in the daily lives of all those people at the destination, always accompanied by other professionals willing to collaborate hand in hand with you and guide you in daily tasks.

If your university is not part of the agreement with Cooperating Volunteers, you can contact cristina@cooperatingvolunteers.com so that we can get in touch and make this experience a reality. 

CORPORATE VOLUNTEERING

Corporate volunteering consists of tailored programs for your company, designed to develop teamwork skills.

It is proven that teamwork directly impacts productivity. 

Collective effort surpasses individual capabilities, promotes diversity of skills, stimulates creativity, and facilitates problem-solving in the face of various challenges.

Therefore, it not only maximizes efficiency but also enriches the work environment.

We conduct corporate volunteering programs that consist of customized programs for your company, designed to develop teamwork skills, improve performance, and foster unity among employees.

We tailor projects to the corporate identity and size of the company, and we can adjust them to any destination and time of the year.

The advantages of corporate volunteering include:

  • Improving communication.
  • Group unity.
  • Cultural integration in different situations.
  • Employee training.
  • Increased Corporate Social Responsibility.

The future is aligned with a more responsible society, and participating in social projects positions our company among the list of revolutionary businesses that want to be part of the change.

If you resonate with this message, corporate volunteering is a unique experience both individually and collectively, and at Cooperating Volunteers, we accompany you throughout the process to make it a unique journey.

FAMILY VOLUNTEERING

Quality time spent with family strengthens emotional bonds, promotes communication, and contributes to the emotional well-being of its members. 

Spending quality time with family and being able to disconnect from our hectic routines is not only enriching but also necessary.

Sometimes we forget to communicate, connect, and dedicate time to each other. Each one of us lives focused on our jobs, schools… And it’s necessary to find the opportunity to pause and take care of ourselves.

Quality time spent with family strengthens emotional bonds, promotes communication, and contributes to the emotional well-being of its members. And of course, it creates lifelong positive memories.

At Cooperating Volunteers, we suggest moving away from those ‘more superficial’ trips (which can also be fantastic), but we invite you to live this experience to bring out our most empathetic and humanitarian side.

Family volunteering gives us the opportunity to be part of a positive impact, promoting values of solidarity and social responsibility.

There are many families who choose to experience these trips focused on cooperation and direct involvement with different communities around the world, where living conditions are very different and sometimes entirely precarious.

Projects are tailored to different ages, allowing us to work together.

An incredible way to fill our suitcase with memories, learning, and knowledge.

And although stepping out of our comfort zone often feels daunting, we assure you firsthand that it’s worth it.

At Cooperating Volunteers, we accompany you throughout the entire experience, from start to finish, to make it unforgettable.

SENIOR VOLUNTEERING

At Cooperating Volunteers, we believe it’s never too late for anything, especially for volunteering and living a unique and unforgettable experience.

There are many people, increasingly so, who opt for responsible travel that involves social work.

Accustomed to organized and mostly touristic trips, at Cooperating Volunteers, we want to advocate for a more enriching experience, one that transforms us from within and allows us to be part of the change the world needs to see.

We can adapt both the destination and the duration of our projects to fit your needs.

It’s an opportunity full of emotions that allows us to significantly contribute to different communities and their evolution. And you can participate in different areas such as education, social support, or assistance in different centers.

Some of the benefits include:

  • Sense of purpose: Provides a sense of purpose by contributing your skills and experiences to meaningful causes.
  • Emotional well-being: Reduces feelings of isolation and establishes social connections.
  • Personal development: It’s continuous learning, skill development, and discovering new activities while keeping the mind-body active.
  • Physical health: Keeping active.
  • Stress reduction: The act of helping others reduces stress and contributes to mental health.

Living this experience will undoubtedly be a before and after. 

SOCIAL VOLUNTEERING

A volunteering initiative with leadership and impact through the educational action program.

When we talk about social volunteering, we refer to all those actions and activities carried out altruistically, selflessly, and with the aim of addressing multiple problems and needs of different communities, always focused on education and self-sufficiency.

Education is essential because it provides the tools and knowledge necessary for personal, social, and economic development.

Our goal is to create self-sufficient communities and provide opportunities for the future personal development of each member. The message is not to ‘give’, but to accompany in the process of training for self-managed provision.

At Cooperating Volunteers, many of our destinations and projects embrace this type of volunteering. Some of our projects include: community programs, education, women’s empowerment…

And although they are completely different from each other, they share a single objective: progress towards a society that can embrace us all in the same way.

If you are someone who is restless, who needs to see a change in the future, volunteering is an experience tailor-made for you.