s instructed me
to answer you on his behalf because he would not like in any way to ever
hurt the feelings of one of the friends. However, he suggests in the
future you refer such questions to the N.S.A. and ask them to put you in
touch with a Baha'i teacher who can correspond with you. He himself cannot
do this kind of work, because he is so overworked with the more urgent
administrative affairs of the Faith.

To answer you briefly what the original state of the universe was no one
as yet knows. But we believe God is a spiritual Being and did create it;
how we do not know. We will have experience of God's spirit through His
Prophets in the next world, but God is too great for us to know without
this Intermediary. The Prophets know God, but how is more than our human
minds can grasp. We believe we attain in the next world to seeing the
Prophets. There is certainly a future life. Heaven and hell are conditions
within our own beings.

He urges you to study carefully the Baha'i books, and he will pray for
your advancement and the success of your Baha'i activities.

With loving greetings,
R. Rabbani

[From the Guardian:]

May the Beloved bless your efforts, guide and sustain you in your
meritorious activities, in such a distant field, and enable you to win
great and memorable victories in the teaching field.

Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi

(60) March 18, 1952

(60) March 18, 1952

Dear Baha'i Sister:

Your most interesting gift has been received, through the kindness of
Leroy Ioas, and it is deeply appreciated. I thank you for the thought as
well as the gift.

These are busy days in Haifa with the many pilgrims who are coming and
going. The news of the rapid growth of the Faith in various lands is very
inspiring, and the pilgrims leave the Holy Land for their posts with a new
determination to play nobly their parts.

With warm Baha'i love,
Ruhiyyih

P.S. I should also say the beloved Guardian appreciated very much the
Eskimo things.

(61) September 17, 1952

(61) September 17, 1952

Dear Baha'i Sister:

Your letter of August 5th has been received by the beloved Guardian and he
has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.

As the Guardian is very busy indeed these days, the answer will be brief.
Your plan to return to Alaska makes him very happy indeed. He attaches the
greatest importance to Alaska, and it will become increasingly important
in the future. Therefore, he u