Buddhist philosophy is actually very positive, holding a view that is both realistic in its description of the human predicament, and amazingly optimistic in its description of human potential. This awakening is not annihilation, nor is it a blissfully self-absorbed meditation state. An awakened being sees reality as it truly is, without filters and projections. An awakened being also sees other beings as they truly are, with all of their suffering and potential to move beyond suffering. The natural reaction to seeing the suffering of beings is compassion, which leads to actions to alleviate that suffering.
Insight leads to compassion, which leads to action.
Taken to the extreme, this insight literally breaks down the barrier we imagine to exist between ourselves and others. The pain of others becomes our own pain. Sharing food with another person is the same as feeding ourselves. The Buddhist tradition sees this type of insight as not only helpful to social action, but actually necessary in order to commit any action free of egotistic self-interest. Socially Engaged Buddhism is not new.