唐僖宗(zong)(zong)中和(he)(he)三(san)(san)(san)年(nian)(八(ba)八(ba)三(san)(san)(san)年(nian)),曹(cao)(cao)(cao)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)宗(zong)(zong)二祖(zu)道(dao)膺禪(chan)師來(lai)主此山(shan),僧眾云(yun)集一(yi)千五(wu)(wu)百馀人(ren),唐僖宗(zong)(zong)賜額「龍(long)昌禪(chan)院」。道(dao)膺禪(chan)師(八(ba)三(san)(san)(san)五(wu)(wu)~九(jiu)〇二年(nian)),是(shi)佛(fo)(fo)教禪(chan)宗(zong)(zong)五(wu)(wu)宗(zong)(zong)之(zhi)一(yi)曹(cao)(cao)(cao)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)宗(zong)(zong)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)山(shan)法(fa)(fa)系的(de)(de)(de)傳人(ren)。禪(chan)宗(zong)(zong)從初祖(zu)菩提達摩創(chuang)建后(hou),傳到(dao)六(liu)(liu)祖(zu)惠能時分南宗(zong)(zong)惠能,北(bei)宗(zong)(zong)神秀,其后(hou)又分化(hua)為溈(gui)仰宗(zong)(zong)、臨濟(ji)宗(zong)(zong)、曹(cao)(cao)(cao)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)宗(zong)(zong)、云(yun)門宗(zong)(zong)、法(fa)(fa)眼(yan)宗(zong)(zong)五(wu)(wu)個(ge)派(pai)別。曹(cao)(cao)(cao)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)宗(zong)(zong)由(you)良價(八(ba)〇七~八(ba)六(liu)(liu)九(jiu)年(nian))和(he)(he)本寂(八(ba)四〇~九(jiu)〇一(yi)年(nian))分別在(zai)江(jiang)西洞(dong)(dong)(dong)山(shan)和(he)(he)曹(cao)(cao)(cao)山(shan)創(chuang)立,主要是(shi)宣傳理事不二、體用無礙的(de)(de)(de)思想,「家(jia)風(feng)細(xi)密(mi),言行相應,隨機利物(wu),就(jiu)語接人(ren)」。而曹(cao)(cao)(cao)山(shan)這一(yi)法(fa)(fa)系四傳后(hou)就(jiu)斷絕了,只靠洞(dong)(dong)(dong)山(shan)法(fa)(fa)系道(dao)膺禪(chan)師一(yi)脈(mo)在(zai)云(yun)居(ju)山(shan)真如寺弘法(fa)(fa),使之(zhi)得以(yi)綿(mian)延流傳下來(lai)。從這個(ge)意義上說,真如寺是(shi)曹(cao)(cao)(cao)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)宗(zong)(zong)的(de)(de)(de)源(yuan)地。禪(chan)宗(zong)(zong)五(wu)(wu)宗(zong)(zong)中,溈(gui)仰、云(yun)門、法(fa)(fa)眼(yan)三(san)(san)(san)宗(zong)(zong)在(zai)宋朝以(yi)后(hou)都失傳了,只有臨濟(ji)和(he)(he)曹(cao)(cao)(cao)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)二家(jia)保存下來(lai)。由(you)此也可(ke)看到(dao)云(yun)居(ju)山(shan)真如寺在(zai)佛(fo)(fo)教史上的(de)(de)(de)地位。
道膺禪(chan)師住持龍昌禪(chan)院三十(shi)年(nian),圓寂(ji)后 弘覺禪(chan)師。在五代至宋這段時間里,先后有道簡、道昌、懷岳、懷滿、德(de)緣(yuan)、智深住持,仍提倡曹(cao)洞宗(zong)。北宋大中祥符(fu)年(nian)間(一(yi)〇〇八(ba)~一(yi)〇一(yi)六年(nian)),宋真(zhen)宗(zong)敕改(gai)名為「真(zhen)如禪(chan)寺(si)」,一(yi)直(zhi)沿習至今。
真如寺(si)(si)現塔林有建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)面積約(yue)一萬平(ping)方米(mi)(mi),主體(ti)建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)為天(tian)王殿、大雄(xiong)寶殿、法堂(tang)、玉佛殿、禪堂(tang)、虛云(yun)老(lao)和尚(shang)紀念(nian)堂(tang)、寮房等(deng),多(duo)為磚(zhuan)木(mu)結構的宮殿式重廡雙檐大開間,上蓋生(sheng)鐵鑄瓦。寺(si)(si)屬水田一百馀畝、山林三(san)千三(san)百馀畝。寺(si)(si)中(zhong)尚(shang)存千年古銀杏十馀株,其中(zhong)有唐朝道膺禪師手植者,直徑達二米(mi)(mi),拔地參天(tian),蓊(weng)郁蒼翠。寺(si)(si)內還保(bao)留著南宋至(zhi)明(ming)代的出(chu)土(tu)文(wen)物,清康熙(xi)年間鑄造的千僧大鐵鍋等(deng)。寺(si)(si)廟周圍有歷代僧塔二十馀座,寺(si)(si)前(qian)還保(bao)留著佛印與蘇東(dong)坡的談心石(shi)以及趙州關、明(ming)月湖等(deng)字樣石(shi)刻(ke)多(duo)處。
出寺(si)門,梯田節節,山坡綠(lv)草如茵、灌木成林,沿坡上(shang)有溪水(shui)(shui)環流(liu),水(shui)(shui)色清碧(bi),終年不涸,名為碧(bi)溪。佛印(yin)橋飛架碧(bi)溪,蘇(su)東(dong)(dong)坡曾(ceng)為之寫下詩句:「欲與(yu)白論心事,碧(bi)溪橋下水(shui)(shui)潺(chan)潺(chan)。」聽畔有巨石(shi)(shi),瑩潔平整,石(shi)(shi)下流(liu)水(shui)(shui)淙淙,石(shi)(shi)旁(pang)古樹濃(nong)陰,相傳蘇(su)東(dong)(dong)坡與(yu)佛印(yin)和尚曾(ceng)談(tan)(tan)經(jing)論法於此,故名「談(tan)(tan)心石(shi)(shi)」。