Role of Buddhist Art in Developing Humanistic Concern

Abstract

A glance at the international scenario today exposes an alarming view where the world peace, fraternity and humanistic concern seems to be at stake, perhaps as never before. With the rapid developments during the last few decades specially -fast industrialization, expanding urbanization, intensive commercialization all over the world, man has tended to become some what mechanical and materialistic in his attitudes and behaviour. The changes seem to have virtually detached him from his roots -the essence of being human. This has led to the weakening of his sensitivity and intensity of his emotional responses like compassion and love towards the other members of the society. It will not be exaggeration of the facts to say that man has, more or less, become like a robot who is programmed with the sole attention focused on the physical targets of achieving the material aims and gains, irrespective of their implications being constructive or destructive. His concern for the genuine human welfare and happiness has become secondary. It is this sad state of toda's world which is responsible for disturbing the socio-political equilibrium of the society. Perhaps we all will agree, that now it is high time when serious and concerted efforts need to be made to reestablish those age-old universal values of love, fraternity and compassion amongst the people and to foster concern for the humanity at large without any difference of caste or creed.