Cupertino Bahá’ís

Cupertino Bahá’ís Baha’is are dedicated to creating an ever-advancing civilization, in a just, sustainable, and peaceful world.

Abdu’l-Baha taught, “The heart is important. If the heart is pure, White or Black or any color makes no difference. God ...
06/13/2026

Abdu’l-Baha taught, “The heart is important. If the heart is pure, White or Black or any color makes no difference. God does not look at colors; He looks at the hearts.”
During his travels in the US in 1912, Abdu’l-Baha spoke at Howard University - a historically Black university. He began by drawing attention to the diversity in the room. “Today I am happy,” he said, “for I see white and black sitting together… There are no whites and blacks before God. All colors are one, and that is the color of servitude to God. Scent and color are not important. The heart is important. If the heart is pure, white or black or any color makes no difference… The world of humanity is like a garden, and humankind are like the many-colored flowers. Therefore, different colors constitute an adornment.… in origin they are one. These colors developed later due to climates and regions; they have no significance whatsoever. Therefore, today I am very happy that white and black have gathered together in this meeting. I hope this coming together and harmony reaches such a degree that no distinctions shall remain between them, and they shall be together in the utmost harmony and love.”
Baha’u’llah strongly proclaimed the oneness of humanity. Abdu’l-Baha quoted him, saying: “O humankind! Verily, ye are all the leaves and fruits of one tree; ye are all one. Therefore, associate in friendship; love one another; abandon prejudices of race…. For thousands of years ye have been contending in warfare and strife. It is enough. Now is the time for unity.”
When we realize that one’s external appearance is secondary to one’s inner spiritual being, we are well on the way toward abolishing estrangement and conflict.

The views expressed in this article reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith.

Justice is a central principle of the Baha’i Faith. “The best beloved of all things in My sight is Justice,” Bahá’u’lláh...
06/06/2026

Justice is a central principle of the Baha’i Faith. “The best beloved of all things in My sight is Justice,” Bahá’u’lláh wrote. “No light can compare with the light of justice. The establishment of order in the world and the tranquility of the nations depend upon it.”
The Baha’i community is focused on constructing an entirely new social order through organized processes of learning, training, and capacity building. Such processes address, simultaneously, the transformation of both individuals and social structures. Baha’is increasingly refer to these efforts in terms of society building.
The Baha’i community is committed to the advancement of women, and to the equality of women and men. Baha’is have been among the first to reject the forced veiling of women, to declare the full equality of women and men, and to begin translating this principle into practice in every arena of family and community life by prioritizing the education of girls, fostering professional and administrative capacities in women, and empowering women to lead the way for social change within their societies.
Another illustration can be seen in Baha’i efforts to develop a more just and inclusive system of democratic governance. The Baha’i community has no clergy. Rather, it organizes its affairs through democratically elected assemblies at local, national, and international levels. Within this system, women and men, Blacks and whites serve side by side on elected councils even in countries where it is dangerous to do so.
The Cause of Baha’u’llah is not merely a social or political movement. The Baha’i Faith is a world-embracing religion whose adherents constitute an ever-expanding cross-section of humanity focused on the application of spiritual principles in the construction of a new civilization.

The views expressed in this article reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith.
Excerpts from “The Pursuit of Social Justice” by Michael Karlberg

Baha’is see the major world religions as being chapters in the same book. Each religion has a Founder, termed by Baha’is...
05/30/2026

Baha’is see the major world religions as being chapters in the same book. Each religion has a Founder, termed by Baha’is as a “Manifestation of God” or “Messenger of God.” The teachings they bring are built upon that which has gone before, but are invariably presented in a fresh, new way. This “Revelation” has a spiritual force which gradually unfolds its impact as the new religion spreads, and there is a certain flowering of civilization. However, over succeeding centuries the religion loses its freshness and its impact, until a point is reached at which a new Manifestation appears.
The concept that all the great religions proceed from the same Source merits serious contemplation. The Baha'i Writings point out that certain important teachings are found in all religions. For example, the injunction to love one's fellow men echoes throughout all the Holy Writings. The Old Testament enjoins: "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." The Bhagavad-Gita instructs: "A man should not hate any living creature. Let him be friendly and compassionate to all." Jesus said: "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you." "Do you love your creator? Love your fellow-beings first," reads an Islamic tradition. And Baha'u'llah writes: "Ye were created to show love to one another... Take pride not in love for yourselves but in love for all mankind.” So prominent is the teaching of universal love among all religions that it could be viewed as a goal common to them all.
Baha’u’llah teaches us to treat all human beings as members of one family, to abandon our prejudices, and to “Consort with the followers of all religions in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship… They that are endued with sincerity and faithfulness should associate with all the peoples and kindreds of the earth with joy and radiance.”

The views expressed in this article reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith.
Excerpts from https://www.bic.org/statements/promoting-religious-tolerance

Baha’is consider backbiting the worst human act, because slandering another human being damages everyone involved.The Ba...
05/23/2026

Baha’is consider backbiting the worst human act, because slandering another human being damages everyone involved.
The Baha’i teachings treat few subjects more emphatically and uncompromisingly than the spiritual requirement to abstain from fault-finding, backbiting, and gossip. In his book, “The Hidden Words,” Baha’u’llah says: “Breathe not the sins of others so long as thou art thyself a sinner. Shouldst thou transgress this command, accursed wouldst thou be, and to this I bear witness.”
The Baha’i teachings clearly advise us: “To be silent concerning the faults of others, to pray for them, through kindness, to correct their faults. To look always at the good and not at the bad.”
Baha’u’llah says words can have an impact that lasts through generations: “Material fire consumeth the body, whereas the fire of the tongue devoureth both heart and soul. The force of the former lasteth but for a time, whilst the effects of the latter endureth a century.”
Backbiting, gossiping, or saying negative things about someone behind their back, can be antagonizing. Abdu’l-Baha spoke about the harmfulness of backbiting: “If any soul speak ill of an absent one, the only result will clearly be this: he will dampen the zeal of the friends and tend to make them indifferent. For backbiting is divisive, it is the leading cause among the friends of a disposition to withdraw. If any individual should speak ill of one who is absent, it is incumbent on his hearers, in a spiritual and friendly manner, to stop him.”
Baha’u’llah provides us with the healing remedy: “A kindly tongue is the lodestone of the hearts of men. It is the bread of the spirit, it clotheth the words with meaning, it is the fountain of the light of wisdom and understanding.”

The views expressed in this article reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith.

The core teaching of unity, one of the most prominent Baha’i principles, calls on all people to love the common humanity...
05/16/2026

The core teaching of unity, one of the most prominent Baha’i principles, calls on all people to love the common humanity in each person despite any superficial differences. As Abdu’l-Baha clearly pointed out: “This earth is one household and the native land of all humanity; therefore, the human race should ignore distinctions and boundaries which are artificial and conducive to disagreement and hostility.”
Unity does not imply or require uniformity. Even people of the same nation, ethnicity or color may be radically different in the way they think and behave. The Baha’i byword is “Unity in diversity.” Our different talents and abilities give us strength as a society, and make the world beautiful. We have begun to realize, as our world grows closer and closer and boundaries break down, that the diversity in humanity is an asset and not a stumbling block.
Abdu’l-Baha taught, “The diversity in the human family should be the cause of love and harmony, as it is in music where many different notes blend together in the making of a perfect chord.”
We should love and associate with each other, not hate and avoid each other.
In his book, “The Hidden Words,” Baha’u’llah wrote: “Know ye not why We created you all from the same dust? That no one should exalt himself over the other. Ponder at all times in your hearts how ye were created. Since We have created you all from one same substance it is incumbent on you to be even as one soul, to walk with the same feet, eat with the same mouth and dwell in the same land, that from your inmost being, by your deeds and actions, the signs of oneness and the essence of detachment may be made manifest.”

The views expressed in this article reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith.

The central figures of the Baha’i Faith revealed hundreds of prayers for us to say on every topic, ranging from detachme...
05/09/2026

The central figures of the Baha’i Faith revealed hundreds of prayers for us to say on every topic, ranging from detachment and forgiveness to spiritual growth and healing.
Even though it may be difficult to comprehend, God is always there and has time for every sincere entreaty and prayer. Baha’u’llah wrote, God is the one “who hearest and art ready to answer.”
You should know that you are never alone and that God is with you -- watching over all people.
In a world of so much pain, calamity, and hardship, Baha’i prayers give you the spiritual armor, shield, and fortress you need to guard you from every sickness, trial, difficulty and ordeal.
Baha’u’llah brings to us not just heavenly knowledge, but practical steps towards a spiritual life. When we learn to commune with God, to understand His words, and to know the wisdom behind those Words, we can begin to live in a spiritual reality.

The views expressed in this article reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith.

The Baha’i teachings focus on promoting a moral and spiritual education, in addition to the arts, trades, sciences and p...
05/02/2026

The Baha’i teachings focus on promoting a moral and spiritual education, in addition to the arts, trades, sciences and professions. The emphasis on education is a means for social and national improvement.
Education is an unquestioned necessity for the advancement of our greater society. The importance of creating a culture of learning for our children cannot be overemphasized -- which is why the Baha’i teachings call for universal compulsory education for all children: “It is incumbent upon the father and mother to train their children both in good conduct and the study of books.”
Baha’is believe that through education we can not only transform our intellect, but also our society at large. Abdu’l-Baha said, “…education exerts an enormous influence. Through education the ignorant become learned, the cowardly become courageous, the crooked branch becomes straight, the acrid and bitter fruit of the mountains and woods becomes sweet and succulent…”
We need to see education not just as a period of early childhood training, but as a progressive lifetime pursuit that allows children to advance beyond the ability to read and write. Such a view sees education as a never-ending process, the goal of which is not be merely to become literate but to become learned. This is something we can instill in our children by example, by being lifelong learners ourselves, and to demonstrate to our children the joys of learning.
Baha’u’llah has announced that inasmuch as ignorance and lack of education are barriers of separation among mankind, all must receive training and instruction. Through this provision the lack of mutual understanding will be remedied and the unity of mankind furthered and advanced.

The views expressed in this article reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith.
BahaiTeachings.org is the original publisher of this article. Excerpts from “It’s Time We Had Universal Education for All Children” by Joseph Roy Sheppherd.

The Baha’i Faith began on a beautiful, rose-filled island called the Garden of Ridvan (pronounced rez-vahn), which means...
04/25/2026

The Baha’i Faith began on a beautiful, rose-filled island called the Garden of Ridvan (pronounced rez-vahn), which means paradise. That fragrant, birdsong-filled garden witnessed the birth of the world’s newest independent religion.
The Festival of Ridvan is a twelve-day festival held from April 21 to May 2 to commemorate the twelve days Baha’u’llah spent in the Garden of Ridvan in Baghdad in 1863, during which time He declared His Prophetic Mission to His followers and announced His station as the Promised One of all religions.
The Ridvan period also serves as the time when Baha’is elect the democratic institutions that administer their Faith. Baha’is have no clergy, so Baha’i communities govern themselves via democratically-elected bodies of nine people called Spiritual Assemblies. On the first day of Ridvan elections for local Spiritual Assemblies are held in thousands of localities around the globe where Baha’is reside. National Spiritual Assemblies in every country are elected each year during the twelve days of Ridvan as well. Every five years, Baha’is elect the Universal House of Justice during this same period.
When Baha’is gather to pray and silently cast their ballots for the institutions that will guide them through the year, Baha’is affirm their Faith’s teachings on the oneness of humanity, symbolically renew their covenant with Baha’u’llah, and redeem that momentous declaration in the Garden of Ridvan, affirming the structure of a living, unified global community established in Baha’u’llah’s name.

The views expressed in this article reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith.
BahaiTeachings.org is the original publisher of this article. Excerpts from “Ridvan: A Joyous Day for Baha’is and the World”: bahaiteachings.org/ridvan-joyous-day-bahais-world/

Baha’u’llah calls upon each of us to be “an upholder and defender of the victim of oppression” and “an ensign of the hos...
04/18/2026

Baha’u’llah calls upon each of us to be “an upholder and defender of the victim of oppression” and “an ensign of the hosts of justice.” He wrote, “Be generous in prosperity, and thankful in adversity... Be a treasure to the poor, an admonisher to the rich, an answerer to the cry of the needy, a preserver of the sanctity of thy pledge. Be fair in thy judgment, and guarded in thy speech. Be unjust to no man, and show all meekness to all men... Be a home for the stranger, a balm to the suffering, a tower of strength for the fugitive. Be eyes to the blind, and a guiding light unto the feet of the erring...”
Baha’is advocate for the human rights of every person. The idea of human rights can be found in the teachings of all the religions of the past. All of them call on us to recognize that we are members of one human family, and to come to the rescue of the oppressed and the downtrodden.
The growing income and wealth inequality adds one more element to the various forms of suffering and human injustice. This includes the oppression of women by a patriarchal society, the exploitation of national resources, and the abject poverty in which millions live.
We must all distinguish ourselves with individual acts of generosity to the needy. Those with power should recognize that a society is neither just nor sustainable with such extremes of wealth and poverty and must make it the highest priority to care for the most vulnerable.
As consciousness of the inherent oneness of humanity is raised and understanding of the spiritual nature of human beings is fostered, the peoples of the world will be empowered to address the challenge of injustice.

The views expressed here reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith.

“You must manifest complete love and affection toward all mankind. Do not exalt yourselves above others, but consider al...
04/11/2026

“You must manifest complete love and affection toward all mankind. Do not exalt yourselves above others, but consider all as your equals, recognizing them as the servants of one God. Know that God is compassionate toward all; therefore, love all from the depths of your hearts, prefer all religionists before yourselves, be filled with love for every race, and be kind toward the people of all nationalities. Never speak disparagingly of others, but praise without distinction. Pollute not your tongues by speaking evil of another.
Act in such a way that your heart may be free from hatred. Let not your heart be offended with anyone. If someone commits an error and wrong toward you, you must instantly forgive him.
Turn all your thoughts toward bringing joy to hearts. Beware! Beware! lest ye offend any heart. Assist the world of humanity as much as possible. Be the source of consolation to every sad one, assist every weak one, be helpful to every indigent one, care for every sick one, be the cause of glorification to every lowly one, and shelter those who are overshadowed by fear. In brief, let each one of you be as a lamp shining forth with the light of the virtues of the world of humanity. Be trustworthy, sincere, affectionate and replete with chastity.” Abdu’l-Baha

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