唐僖宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)中(zhong)和三年(nian)(八(ba)八(ba)三年(nian)),曹洞(dong)(dong)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)二(er)祖道膺(ying)禪(chan)師來主此山(shan)(shan),僧眾云(yun)(yun)集(ji)一(yi)(yi)千五(wu)(wu)(wu)百馀(yu)人(ren),唐僖宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)賜(si)額(e)「龍昌禪(chan)院(yuan)」。道膺(ying)禪(chan)師(八(ba)三五(wu)(wu)(wu)~九〇二(er)年(nian)),是(shi)佛教(jiao)禪(chan)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)五(wu)(wu)(wu)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)之一(yi)(yi)曹洞(dong)(dong)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)洞(dong)(dong)山(shan)(shan)法系的傳(chuan)(chuan)(chuan)(chuan)人(ren)。禪(chan)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)從初祖菩(pu)提達摩創(chuang)建后(hou),傳(chuan)(chuan)(chuan)(chuan)到六(liu)祖惠能時分南宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)惠能,北宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)神秀,其后(hou)又分化(hua)為溈仰宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)、臨(lin)濟(ji)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)、曹洞(dong)(dong)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)、云(yun)(yun)門宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)、法眼宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)五(wu)(wu)(wu)個派別。曹洞(dong)(dong)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)由良價(八(ba)〇七~八(ba)六(liu)九年(nian))和本寂(ji)(八(ba)四〇~九〇一(yi)(yi)年(nian))分別在(zai)江西洞(dong)(dong)山(shan)(shan)和曹山(shan)(shan)創(chuang)立(li),主要是(shi)宣(xuan)傳(chuan)(chuan)(chuan)(chuan)理事不二(er)、體用無礙的思(si)想,「家(jia)風細密(mi),言行相應,隨機利物(wu),就(jiu)(jiu)語接人(ren)」。而曹山(shan)(shan)這一(yi)(yi)法系四傳(chuan)(chuan)(chuan)(chuan)后(hou)就(jiu)(jiu)斷(duan)絕了,只靠洞(dong)(dong)山(shan)(shan)法系道膺(ying)禪(chan)師一(yi)(yi)脈在(zai)云(yun)(yun)居(ju)山(shan)(shan)真如寺(si)弘法,使之得(de)以綿延流傳(chuan)(chuan)(chuan)(chuan)下(xia)來。從這個意義上說,真如寺(si)是(shi)曹洞(dong)(dong)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)的源地。禪(chan)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)五(wu)(wu)(wu)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)中(zhong),溈仰、云(yun)(yun)門、法眼三宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)在(zai)宋朝以后(hou)都失(shi)傳(chuan)(chuan)(chuan)(chuan)了,只有臨(lin)濟(ji)和曹洞(dong)(dong)二(er)家(jia)保存(cun)下(xia)來。由此也(ye)可看到云(yun)(yun)居(ju)山(shan)(shan)真如寺(si)在(zai)佛教(jiao)史上的地位。
道(dao)(dao)膺禪(chan)師住持龍昌禪(chan)院三十年(nian),圓寂后(hou) 弘覺禪(chan)師。在五代至宋(song)這段時間里,先后(hou)有道(dao)(dao)簡、道(dao)(dao)昌、懷岳、懷滿、德緣、智深(shen)住持,仍提倡曹洞(dong)宗。北宋(song)大中祥(xiang)符年(nian)間(一〇〇八~一〇一六(liu)年(nian)),宋(song)真宗敕改名(ming)為「真如禪(chan)寺」,一直沿習至今(jin)。
真如寺(si)現塔(ta)林有(you)(you)建筑(zhu)面積約一萬平方米,主(zhu)體建筑(zhu)為(wei)天(tian)王殿(dian)(dian)、大雄寶殿(dian)(dian)、法堂、玉佛殿(dian)(dian)、禪堂、虛云老和尚紀念堂、寮房(fang)等,多(duo)為(wei)磚木結(jie)構的宮殿(dian)(dian)式(shi)重廡雙檐大開間,上蓋生鐵鑄瓦(wa)。寺(si)屬水田(tian)一百馀(yu)畝、山林三千(qian)三百馀(yu)畝。寺(si)中(zhong)尚存千(qian)年(nian)古銀杏十(shi)馀(yu)株,其(qi)中(zhong)有(you)(you)唐朝道(dao)膺禪師(shi)手植者,直徑達二(er)(er)米,拔地參天(tian),蓊郁蒼(cang)翠。寺(si)內還保留著南宋至明(ming)代的出(chu)土文物,清康熙(xi)年(nian)間鑄造的千(qian)僧大鐵鍋等。寺(si)廟(miao)周(zhou)圍有(you)(you)歷代僧塔(ta)二(er)(er)十(shi)馀(yu)座(zuo),寺(si)前還保留著佛印與蘇東坡的談心石(shi)以及趙(zhao)州關、明(ming)月湖(hu)等字樣石(shi)刻多(duo)處(chu)。
出寺門,梯田節(jie)(jie)節(jie)(jie),山坡綠草如茵(yin)、灌(guan)木成林,沿坡上有溪(xi)水環(huan)流(liu),水色清(qing)碧(bi)(bi)(bi),終年(nian)不涸(he),名為(wei)碧(bi)(bi)(bi)溪(xi)。佛印橋飛架碧(bi)(bi)(bi)溪(xi),蘇(su)東坡曾(ceng)為(wei)之寫下詩句:「欲與(yu)白論(lun)心(xin)事,碧(bi)(bi)(bi)溪(xi)橋下水潺潺。」聽畔有巨石(shi)(shi),瑩(ying)潔平(ping)整(zheng),石(shi)(shi)下流(liu)水淙(cong)淙(cong),石(shi)(shi)旁古樹濃(nong)陰,相傳蘇(su)東坡與(yu)佛印和尚曾(ceng)談(tan)經論(lun)法(fa)於此,故名「談(tan)心(xin)石(shi)(shi)」。