‘切不可谓，持名一法浅近，舍之而修观像、观想、实相等法。
‘[You] must not say, that the one Dharma door of [1] [mindfulness of Buddha by] upholding the name [of Amituofo: 持名念佛] is simple, [and] abandon it to cultivate [2] [mindfulness of Buddha by] contemplation of [Amituofo’s] image [观像念佛], [3] [mindfulness of Buddha by] visualisation [or contemplation of Pure Land’s details: 观想念佛], [4] [mindfulness of the] true forms [of Buddha: 实相念佛] and other Dharma doors.
夫四种念佛，唯持名最为契机。持至一心不乱，实相妙理，全体显露，西方妙境，彻底圆彰。
Now, of the four kinds [of practices of] mindfulness of Buddha [as numbered above], only upholding the name [of Amituofo] is the most appropriate. Upholding it till wholehearted without being scattered, the wonderful truths of [Amituofo and his Pure Land’s] true forms, will appear entirely, with the Western [Pure Land’s] wonderful conditions, thoroughly and completely becoming clear.
即持名而亲证实相，不作观而彻见西方。持名一法，乃入道之玄门，成佛之捷径。今人教理观法，皆不了明。
Immediately upholding the name [of Amituofo], and then personally realising the true forms [of Amituofo and his Pure Land], not practising visualisation [or contemplation], yet clearly seen is the Western [Pure Land]. This one Dharma door of upholding the name [of Amituofo], therefore is the profound door for entering the path, the shortcut for accomplishing Buddhahood [via Pure Land]. Now, people who teach the method of visualisation [or contemplation], all do not understand this clearly.
若修观想实相，或至着魔。弄巧成拙，求升反堕。宜修易行之行，自感至妙之果矣。’
If cultivating [mindfulness of Buddha by] visualisation [or contemplation of Pure Land’s details or mindfulness of the] true forms [of Amituofo and his Pure Land, they will] possibly come in contact with demonic [obstacles, leading to disturbances and hallucinations. This is] trying to be skilful but ending in blunder, seeking a higher [birth in Pure Land but] instead falling. [It is thus] suitable to cultivate the easiest practice of [the four] practices [by upholding the name of Amituofo], to personally experience its utmost wonderful fruit.’
– 净土宗十三祖印光大师
（与徐福贤书）
– Pure Land Tradition’s 13th Patriarch Great Master Yinguang
(Reply letter to Xu Fuxian)
