唐僖宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)中(zhong)(zhong)和三(san)年(八(ba)八(ba)三(san)年),曹(cao)(cao)洞(dong)(dong)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)二祖(zu)道(dao)膺(ying)禪師(shi)來主(zhu)(zhu)此山(shan)(shan)(shan),僧眾云集一(yi)千(qian)五(wu)百馀人(ren),唐僖宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)賜額「龍昌(chang)禪院」。道(dao)膺(ying)禪師(shi)(八(ba)三(san)五(wu)~九(jiu)〇二年),是佛(fo)教禪宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)五(wu)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)之一(yi)曹(cao)(cao)洞(dong)(dong)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)洞(dong)(dong)山(shan)(shan)(shan)法(fa)(fa)系的(de)(de)傳(chuan)(chuan)人(ren)。禪宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)從初祖(zu)菩(pu)提達摩創(chuang)建后,傳(chuan)(chuan)到六祖(zu)惠能(neng)時分南(nan)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)惠能(neng),北宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)神秀(xiu),其后又分化為溈(gui)仰(yang)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)、臨濟(ji)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)、曹(cao)(cao)洞(dong)(dong)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)、云門宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)、法(fa)(fa)眼宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)五(wu)個派別(bie)(bie)。曹(cao)(cao)洞(dong)(dong)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)由(you)良(liang)價(八(ba)〇七~八(ba)六九(jiu)年)和本寂(ji)(八(ba)四〇~九(jiu)〇一(yi)年)分別(bie)(bie)在江西洞(dong)(dong)山(shan)(shan)(shan)和曹(cao)(cao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)創(chuang)立,主(zhu)(zhu)要(yao)是宣傳(chuan)(chuan)理事不二、體(ti)用無礙(ai)的(de)(de)思(si)想,「家(jia)風細密,言行相應,隨機利(li)物,就語接人(ren)」。而曹(cao)(cao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)這(zhe)一(yi)法(fa)(fa)系四傳(chuan)(chuan)后就斷絕了,只(zhi)靠洞(dong)(dong)山(shan)(shan)(shan)法(fa)(fa)系道(dao)膺(ying)禪師(shi)一(yi)脈在云居山(shan)(shan)(shan)真如寺(si)(si)弘法(fa)(fa),使之得以(yi)綿延流傳(chuan)(chuan)下(xia)來。從這(zhe)個意(yi)義上(shang)說(shuo),真如寺(si)(si)是曹(cao)(cao)洞(dong)(dong)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)的(de)(de)源地(di)。禪宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)五(wu)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)中(zhong)(zhong),溈(gui)仰(yang)、云門、法(fa)(fa)眼三(san)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)在宋(song)朝以(yi)后都(dou)失傳(chuan)(chuan)了,只(zhi)有(you)臨濟(ji)和曹(cao)(cao)洞(dong)(dong)二家(jia)保存(cun)下(xia)來。由(you)此也可看到云居山(shan)(shan)(shan)真如寺(si)(si)在佛(fo)教史(shi)上(shang)的(de)(de)地(di)位(wei)。
道(dao)(dao)(dao)膺禪師(shi)住持(chi)龍昌禪院三十年(nian),圓寂后(hou) 弘覺(jue)禪師(shi)。在五代至宋(song)這段時間(jian)(jian)里,先后(hou)有道(dao)(dao)(dao)簡、道(dao)(dao)(dao)昌、懷(huai)岳、懷(huai)滿、德緣、智深住持(chi),仍(reng)提倡(chang)曹(cao)洞宗。北宋(song)大中祥符年(nian)間(jian)(jian)(一(yi)(yi)〇〇八~一(yi)(yi)〇一(yi)(yi)六年(nian)),宋(song)真(zhen)宗敕改名為「真(zhen)如(ru)禪寺」,一(yi)(yi)直沿(yan)習至今。
真如寺現塔林(lin)有(you)建(jian)筑面積約一(yi)萬平方米(mi),主體建(jian)筑為天王殿(dian)(dian)、大雄寶(bao)殿(dian)(dian)、法堂、玉佛殿(dian)(dian)、禪堂、虛云老(lao)和(he)尚紀念堂、寮房等,多為磚木結(jie)構(gou)的(de)(de)宮殿(dian)(dian)式重廡雙檐大開間(jian)(jian),上(shang)蓋生鐵(tie)鑄瓦。寺屬水田一(yi)百馀(yu)畝(mu)、山林(lin)三千三百馀(yu)畝(mu)。寺中尚存千年(nian)古銀杏十(shi)馀(yu)株,其(qi)中有(you)唐朝道膺禪師手植者,直(zhi)徑(jing)達二(er)米(mi),拔(ba)地(di)參天,蓊郁蒼翠。寺內(nei)還(huan)保留(liu)(liu)著南宋至明(ming)代的(de)(de)出土文物,清康熙年(nian)間(jian)(jian)鑄造的(de)(de)千僧大鐵(tie)鍋等。寺廟周圍有(you)歷代僧塔二(er)十(shi)馀(yu)座,寺前還(huan)保留(liu)(liu)著佛印與蘇東坡的(de)(de)談心石以及(ji)趙州關、明(ming)月(yue)湖等字樣石刻多處(chu)。
出(chu)寺門,梯田節(jie)節(jie),山坡綠(lv)草如茵、灌(guan)木成林,沿坡上有溪水(shui)環(huan)流(liu)(liu),水(shui)色清碧(bi),終年不(bu)涸(he),名為碧(bi)溪。佛(fo)印(yin)橋飛架碧(bi)溪,蘇(su)東坡曾(ceng)(ceng)為之寫下詩(shi)句:「欲與白論心(xin)事,碧(bi)溪橋下水(shui)潺潺。」聽畔有巨石,瑩潔平整(zheng),石下流(liu)(liu)水(shui)淙(cong)淙(cong),石旁古樹濃陰,相(xiang)傳蘇(su)東坡與佛(fo)印(yin)和尚(shang)曾(ceng)(ceng)談經(jing)論法於(wu)此,故名「談心(xin)石」。