唐(tang)僖(xi)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)中(zhong)和三年(八(ba)(ba)八(ba)(ba)三年),曹(cao)(cao)(cao)洞(dong)(dong)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)二(er)祖(zu)(zu)道(dao)(dao)膺禪(chan)(chan)師來主(zhu)此(ci)山(shan)(shan),僧(seng)眾(zhong)云集一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)千五百(bai)馀人,唐(tang)僖(xi)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)賜(si)額(e)「龍(long)昌禪(chan)(chan)院」。道(dao)(dao)膺禪(chan)(chan)師(八(ba)(ba)三五~九〇二(er)年),是(shi)佛教(jiao)禪(chan)(chan)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)五宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)之(zhi)一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)曹(cao)(cao)(cao)洞(dong)(dong)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)洞(dong)(dong)山(shan)(shan)法(fa)系的傳(chuan)人。禪(chan)(chan)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)從初祖(zu)(zu)菩提(ti)達(da)摩創(chuang)建后(hou),傳(chuan)到(dao)六(liu)祖(zu)(zu)惠能時分南(nan)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)惠能,北宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)神秀,其(qi)后(hou)又分化為(wei)溈仰宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)、臨濟(ji)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)、曹(cao)(cao)(cao)洞(dong)(dong)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)、云門(men)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)、法(fa)眼(yan)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)五個(ge)派別。曹(cao)(cao)(cao)洞(dong)(dong)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)由良價(八(ba)(ba)〇七~八(ba)(ba)六(liu)九年)和本寂(八(ba)(ba)四〇~九〇一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)年)分別在(zai)江西(xi)洞(dong)(dong)山(shan)(shan)和曹(cao)(cao)(cao)山(shan)(shan)創(chuang)立,主(zhu)要是(shi)宣(xuan)傳(chuan)理事不二(er)、體用無礙(ai)的思(si)想,「家(jia)風細密,言(yan)行相應,隨機利物,就語接人」。而曹(cao)(cao)(cao)山(shan)(shan)這一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)法(fa)系四傳(chuan)后(hou)就斷絕了,只靠洞(dong)(dong)山(shan)(shan)法(fa)系道(dao)(dao)膺禪(chan)(chan)師一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)脈在(zai)云居(ju)山(shan)(shan)真(zhen)如(ru)寺(si)(si)(si)弘(hong)法(fa),使之(zhi)得以綿(mian)延流傳(chuan)下來。從這個(ge)意義上說,真(zhen)如(ru)寺(si)(si)(si)是(shi)曹(cao)(cao)(cao)洞(dong)(dong)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)的源地(di)。禪(chan)(chan)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)五宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)中(zhong),溈仰、云門(men)、法(fa)眼(yan)三宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)在(zai)宋(song)朝(chao)以后(hou)都失傳(chuan)了,只有(you)臨濟(ji)和曹(cao)(cao)(cao)洞(dong)(dong)二(er)家(jia)保存下來。由此(ci)也(ye)可看到(dao)云居(ju)山(shan)(shan)真(zhen)如(ru)寺(si)(si)(si)在(zai)佛教(jiao)史上的地(di)位。
道膺禪(chan)師住持(chi)龍昌禪(chan)院三十年(nian),圓寂后(hou) 弘覺禪(chan)師。在五(wu)代至宋這段時(shi)間(jian)里,先后(hou)有道簡、道昌、懷岳、懷滿、德(de)緣、智深住持(chi),仍(reng)提倡曹洞宗。北宋大中祥(xiang)符年(nian)間(jian)(一(yi)〇〇八(ba)~一(yi)〇一(yi)六年(nian)),宋真(zhen)宗敕改名為「真(zhen)如禪(chan)寺」,一(yi)直(zhi)沿習至今。
真如寺(si)現(xian)塔林有(you)(you)建筑面積約一(yi)萬平方米,主體建筑為(wei)天王殿、大(da)(da)雄寶殿、法堂、玉佛殿、禪堂、虛云老和尚(shang)紀(ji)念堂、寮房(fang)等(deng),多(duo)為(wei)磚(zhuan)木結(jie)構的(de)宮殿式(shi)重廡雙檐(yan)大(da)(da)開間,上蓋(gai)生鐵鑄(zhu)瓦。寺(si)屬水田一(yi)百馀畝、山林三(san)(san)千(qian)三(san)(san)百馀畝。寺(si)中(zhong)尚(shang)存千(qian)年古銀杏十馀株,其中(zhong)有(you)(you)唐朝(chao)道膺禪師手植者,直徑達二米,拔地參天,蓊郁(yu)蒼翠(cui)。寺(si)內(nei)還保留著南(nan)宋(song)至明代(dai)的(de)出(chu)土文物(wu),清康(kang)熙年間鑄(zhu)造的(de)千(qian)僧大(da)(da)鐵鍋等(deng)。寺(si)廟周圍有(you)(you)歷代(dai)僧塔二十馀座(zuo),寺(si)前還保留著佛印與蘇東坡的(de)談心(xin)石以及趙州關(guan)、明月湖等(deng)字樣石刻多(duo)處。
出寺門,梯(ti)田節節,山坡(po)綠草如茵、灌(guan)木成(cheng)林,沿坡(po)上有(you)溪(xi)水(shui)環(huan)流,水(shui)色清碧,終(zhong)年(nian)不涸(he),名為碧溪(xi)。佛印(yin)橋飛(fei)架碧溪(xi),蘇東(dong)坡(po)曾為之寫下(xia)詩句:「欲與(yu)白論心事,碧溪(xi)橋下(xia)水(shui)潺(chan)潺(chan)。」聽畔(pan)有(you)巨石(shi),瑩潔平整,石(shi)下(xia)流水(shui)淙(cong)(cong)淙(cong)(cong),石(shi)旁古樹(shu)濃陰,相傳(chuan)蘇東(dong)坡(po)與(yu)佛印(yin)和尚曾談經論法於此,故名「談心石(shi)」。