唐(tang)僖(xi)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)中和三(san)(san)年(八(ba)八(ba)三(san)(san)年),曹(cao)(cao)(cao)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)二祖道膺(ying)禪師來(lai)(lai)主(zhu)此山(shan)(shan)(shan),僧(seng)眾(zhong)云(yun)集一(yi)(yi)千五(wu)(wu)百馀(yu)人,唐(tang)僖(xi)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)賜額「龍昌禪院」。道膺(ying)禪師(八(ba)三(san)(san)五(wu)(wu)~九(jiu)〇二年),是佛教禪宗(zong)(zong)(zong)五(wu)(wu)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)之一(yi)(yi)曹(cao)(cao)(cao)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)山(shan)(shan)(shan)法(fa)系(xi)的(de)傳(chuan)(chuan)人。禪宗(zong)(zong)(zong)從(cong)初祖菩(pu)提達摩創建后(hou),傳(chuan)(chuan)到六祖惠(hui)能(neng)時(shi)分南宗(zong)(zong)(zong)惠(hui)能(neng),北(bei)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)神秀(xiu),其(qi)后(hou)又分化為溈(gui)仰宗(zong)(zong)(zong)、臨(lin)(lin)濟宗(zong)(zong)(zong)、曹(cao)(cao)(cao)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)、云(yun)門宗(zong)(zong)(zong)、法(fa)眼宗(zong)(zong)(zong)五(wu)(wu)個派別(bie)。曹(cao)(cao)(cao)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)由良價(八(ba)〇七~八(ba)六九(jiu)年)和本寂(八(ba)四〇~九(jiu)〇一(yi)(yi)年)分別(bie)在江西洞(dong)(dong)(dong)山(shan)(shan)(shan)和曹(cao)(cao)(cao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)創立,主(zhu)要是宣(xuan)傳(chuan)(chuan)理事不二、體(ti)用(yong)無礙的(de)思想,「家(jia)風(feng)細密,言(yan)行相應,隨機(ji)利物,就(jiu)語(yu)接人」。而(er)曹(cao)(cao)(cao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)這(zhe)一(yi)(yi)法(fa)系(xi)四傳(chuan)(chuan)后(hou)就(jiu)斷絕了,只靠(kao)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)山(shan)(shan)(shan)法(fa)系(xi)道膺(ying)禪師一(yi)(yi)脈在云(yun)居山(shan)(shan)(shan)真如寺弘(hong)法(fa),使之得以綿(mian)延流傳(chuan)(chuan)下來(lai)(lai)。從(cong)這(zhe)個意(yi)義上說(shuo),真如寺是曹(cao)(cao)(cao)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)的(de)源地。禪宗(zong)(zong)(zong)五(wu)(wu)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)中,溈(gui)仰、云(yun)門、法(fa)眼三(san)(san)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)在宋朝(chao)以后(hou)都失傳(chuan)(chuan)了,只有臨(lin)(lin)濟和曹(cao)(cao)(cao)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)二家(jia)保存下來(lai)(lai)。由此也可(ke)看(kan)到云(yun)居山(shan)(shan)(shan)真如寺在佛教史上的(de)地位(wei)。
道(dao)膺禪師(shi)住(zhu)持龍昌禪院三十年,圓寂后(hou) 弘覺禪師(shi)。在(zai)五代至(zhi)宋(song)這段時間(jian)里(li),先后(hou)有道(dao)簡、道(dao)昌、懷岳、懷滿(man)、德緣、智深住(zhu)持,仍(reng)提倡曹洞宗。北宋(song)大中祥符(fu)年間(jian)(一(yi)(yi)〇〇八~一(yi)(yi)〇一(yi)(yi)六年),宋(song)真宗敕改名為「真如禪寺」,一(yi)(yi)直沿習(xi)至(zhi)今(jin)。
真如寺(si)(si)(si)(si)現塔林有(you)建筑(zhu)面(mian)積約一萬平(ping)方米(mi),主體建筑(zhu)為天王(wang)殿(dian)、大(da)雄寶(bao)殿(dian)、法堂、玉佛殿(dian)、禪(chan)堂、虛云老(lao)和尚紀念堂、寮(liao)房等(deng),多(duo)為磚木結構的(de)(de)宮殿(dian)式重廡雙檐大(da)開間(jian),上蓋生(sheng)鐵(tie)鑄(zhu)瓦。寺(si)(si)(si)(si)屬水(shui)田一百(bai)(bai)馀畝、山(shan)林三千(qian)三百(bai)(bai)馀畝。寺(si)(si)(si)(si)中尚存千(qian)年古(gu)銀杏十馀株,其(qi)中有(you)唐(tang)朝道膺禪(chan)師手植者,直(zhi)徑(jing)達二米(mi),拔(ba)地參天,蓊郁蒼翠。寺(si)(si)(si)(si)內(nei)還(huan)保留著南宋至(zhi)明代的(de)(de)出土文物,清康熙年間(jian)鑄(zhu)造的(de)(de)千(qian)僧大(da)鐵(tie)鍋(guo)等(deng)。寺(si)(si)(si)(si)廟(miao)周圍有(you)歷代僧塔二十馀座(zuo),寺(si)(si)(si)(si)前還(huan)保留著佛印與(yu)蘇東坡的(de)(de)談心(xin)石(shi)以(yi)及趙州關、明月湖等(deng)字樣石(shi)刻(ke)多(duo)處。
出寺門,梯(ti)田節節,山坡(po)綠草如(ru)茵、灌木成林,沿坡(po)上有溪(xi)水(shui)環流,水(shui)色(se)清碧(bi),終年(nian)不涸,名為碧(bi)溪(xi)。佛印(yin)橋飛架碧(bi)溪(xi),蘇東坡(po)曾為之(zhi)寫(xie)下詩句:「欲與白論(lun)心事,碧(bi)溪(xi)橋下水(shui)潺(chan)潺(chan)。」聽畔有巨石,瑩(ying)潔平整(zheng),石下流水(shui)淙淙,石旁古樹濃陰,相(xiang)傳蘇東坡(po)與佛印(yin)和尚曾談經論(lun)法於(wu)此,故名「談心石」。