唐僖(xi)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)中和三年(nian)(八(ba)(ba)八(ba)(ba)三年(nian)),曹(cao)(cao)(cao)洞(dong)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)二祖(zu)(zu)道膺禪師(shi)來主此山(shan),僧眾云集(ji)一千五(wu)百馀人,唐僖(xi)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)賜額「龍(long)昌禪院」。道膺禪師(shi)(八(ba)(ba)三五(wu)~九〇二年(nian)),是佛教禪宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)五(wu)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)之(zhi)一曹(cao)(cao)(cao)洞(dong)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)洞(dong)山(shan)法(fa)系(xi)的(de)傳(chuan)(chuan)人。禪宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)從初祖(zu)(zu)菩(pu)提達摩創建后,傳(chuan)(chuan)到六祖(zu)(zu)惠(hui)能(neng)時分(fen)(fen)(fen)南宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)惠(hui)能(neng),北宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)神秀,其(qi)后又分(fen)(fen)(fen)化為溈(gui)仰宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)、臨濟(ji)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)、曹(cao)(cao)(cao)洞(dong)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)、云門(men)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)、法(fa)眼宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)五(wu)個(ge)派別。曹(cao)(cao)(cao)洞(dong)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)由良(liang)價(八(ba)(ba)〇七~八(ba)(ba)六九年(nian))和本寂(八(ba)(ba)四〇~九〇一年(nian))分(fen)(fen)(fen)別在江西洞(dong)山(shan)和曹(cao)(cao)(cao)山(shan)創立,主要是宣傳(chuan)(chuan)理事(shi)不(bu)二、體用無礙的(de)思想,「家風細密,言行相應,隨機利物,就(jiu)語接人」。而(er)曹(cao)(cao)(cao)山(shan)這(zhe)(zhe)一法(fa)系(xi)四傳(chuan)(chuan)后就(jiu)斷絕了(le),只靠洞(dong)山(shan)法(fa)系(xi)道膺禪師(shi)一脈(mo)在云居山(shan)真如(ru)寺弘法(fa),使(shi)之(zhi)得以(yi)綿延流傳(chuan)(chuan)下來。從這(zhe)(zhe)個(ge)意義(yi)上說,真如(ru)寺是曹(cao)(cao)(cao)洞(dong)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)的(de)源地(di)。禪宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)五(wu)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)中,溈(gui)仰、云門(men)、法(fa)眼三宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)在宋朝以(yi)后都(dou)失傳(chuan)(chuan)了(le),只有臨濟(ji)和曹(cao)(cao)(cao)洞(dong)二家保存(cun)下來。由此也可看到云居山(shan)真如(ru)寺在佛教史上的(de)地(di)位。
道(dao)膺禪(chan)(chan)(chan)師住持龍昌禪(chan)(chan)(chan)院三十年,圓寂后 弘覺(jue)禪(chan)(chan)(chan)師。在(zai)五(wu)代至宋(song)這段時間里(li),先后有道(dao)簡、道(dao)昌、懷岳(yue)、懷滿、德緣、智深住持,仍提倡曹洞宗。北宋(song)大中祥符年間(一(yi)(yi)〇〇八~一(yi)(yi)〇一(yi)(yi)六年),宋(song)真(zhen)宗敕改名為「真(zhen)如禪(chan)(chan)(chan)寺」,一(yi)(yi)直沿習至今。
真如(ru)寺(si)(si)(si)現塔(ta)林(lin)有(you)建筑(zhu)面(mian)積約一萬平方米(mi),主體(ti)建筑(zhu)為(wei)天王(wang)殿(dian)、大(da)雄(xiong)寶殿(dian)、法(fa)堂、玉佛殿(dian)、禪(chan)堂、虛云(yun)老和尚紀(ji)念(nian)堂、寮(liao)房等,多為(wei)磚(zhuan)木結構的宮殿(dian)式重(zhong)廡雙檐大(da)開間,上蓋生鐵鑄瓦。寺(si)(si)(si)屬水田(tian)一百馀(yu)(yu)畝、山林(lin)三(san)千三(san)百馀(yu)(yu)畝。寺(si)(si)(si)中尚存千年古銀(yin)杏(xing)十馀(yu)(yu)株,其中有(you)唐朝道膺(ying)禪(chan)師(shi)手植者,直(zhi)徑達(da)二米(mi),拔(ba)地參天,蓊郁蒼翠。寺(si)(si)(si)內還(huan)保(bao)留(liu)著(zhu)南宋至明代的出土(tu)文物,清康熙年間鑄造的千僧大(da)鐵鍋等。寺(si)(si)(si)廟周圍有(you)歷代僧塔(ta)二十馀(yu)(yu)座,寺(si)(si)(si)前還(huan)保(bao)留(liu)著(zhu)佛印與蘇(su)東(dong)坡的談心石(shi)以及趙州關、明月湖等字樣石(shi)刻多處(chu)。
出寺(si)門,梯田節節,山坡(po)(po)綠草(cao)如茵、灌木成林,沿坡(po)(po)上有(you)溪(xi)(xi)水環流(liu),水色清(qing)碧,終年不(bu)涸,名(ming)為(wei)碧溪(xi)(xi)。佛印橋飛架碧溪(xi)(xi),蘇東坡(po)(po)曾(ceng)為(wei)之寫(xie)下詩句:「欲(yu)與(yu)白論心事,碧溪(xi)(xi)橋下水潺(chan)潺(chan)。」聽畔(pan)有(you)巨(ju)石(shi),瑩潔平整,石(shi)下流(liu)水淙淙,石(shi)旁古樹濃陰,相傳蘇東坡(po)(po)與(yu)佛印和尚曾(ceng)談經論法於此(ci),故(gu)名(ming)「談心石(shi)」。