唐(tang)僖(xi)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)中(zhong)和三年(nian)(八八三年(nian)),曹(cao)(cao)(cao)洞(dong)(dong)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)二(er)祖道(dao)膺禪(chan)(chan)師來主(zhu)(zhu)此山(shan)(shan)(shan),僧眾(zhong)云集一(yi)千五百馀人,唐(tang)僖(xi)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)賜額「龍昌禪(chan)(chan)院」。道(dao)膺禪(chan)(chan)師(八三五~九(jiu)〇二(er)年(nian)),是(shi)佛教禪(chan)(chan)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)五宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)之一(yi)曹(cao)(cao)(cao)洞(dong)(dong)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)洞(dong)(dong)山(shan)(shan)(shan)法(fa)系的傳人。禪(chan)(chan)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)從(cong)初祖菩(pu)提(ti)達(da)摩創建后(hou),傳到六祖惠(hui)能(neng)時分南宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)惠(hui)能(neng),北(bei)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)神秀,其后(hou)又(you)分化為(wei)溈(gui)仰宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)、臨(lin)(lin)濟(ji)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)、曹(cao)(cao)(cao)洞(dong)(dong)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)、云門宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)、法(fa)眼宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)五個派別。曹(cao)(cao)(cao)洞(dong)(dong)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)由(you)(you)良(liang)價(八〇七~八六九(jiu)年(nian))和本(ben)寂(八四〇~九(jiu)〇一(yi)年(nian))分別在江(jiang)西洞(dong)(dong)山(shan)(shan)(shan)和曹(cao)(cao)(cao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)創立,主(zhu)(zhu)要(yao)是(shi)宣傳理事不二(er)、體用無礙的思想(xiang),「家風細密(mi),言行相(xiang)應(ying),隨(sui)機利物,就語接人」。而曹(cao)(cao)(cao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)這一(yi)法(fa)系四傳后(hou)就斷絕了,只靠洞(dong)(dong)山(shan)(shan)(shan)法(fa)系道(dao)膺禪(chan)(chan)師一(yi)脈在云居(ju)山(shan)(shan)(shan)真(zhen)如(ru)寺弘法(fa),使之得以綿延流傳下來。從(cong)這個意(yi)義上說,真(zhen)如(ru)寺是(shi)曹(cao)(cao)(cao)洞(dong)(dong)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)的源(yuan)地(di)。禪(chan)(chan)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)五宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)中(zhong),溈(gui)仰、云門、法(fa)眼三宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)在宋朝以后(hou)都失傳了,只有臨(lin)(lin)濟(ji)和曹(cao)(cao)(cao)洞(dong)(dong)二(er)家保存下來。由(you)(you)此也可(ke)看到云居(ju)山(shan)(shan)(shan)真(zhen)如(ru)寺在佛教史(shi)上的地(di)位。
道膺禪(chan)師住持龍(long)昌(chang)禪(chan)院(yuan)三十年,圓(yuan)寂(ji)后 弘覺禪(chan)師。在五代至宋(song)這段時間里,先后有道簡、道昌(chang)、懷岳、懷滿、德緣(yuan)、智深住持,仍提倡曹洞宗。北宋(song)大中祥符年間(一(yi)〇〇八(ba)~一(yi)〇一(yi)六年),宋(song)真宗敕(chi)改名為「真如(ru)禪(chan)寺」,一(yi)直沿習至今。
真如寺(si)(si)現(xian)塔林有(you)建筑(zhu)面積約一萬平方(fang)米,主體建筑(zhu)為(wei)天王殿(dian)、大雄寶(bao)殿(dian)、法堂、玉佛殿(dian)、禪(chan)堂、虛(xu)云老(lao)和(he)尚(shang)紀念堂、寮房(fang)等(deng),多為(wei)磚木(mu)結構(gou)的宮(gong)殿(dian)式重(zhong)廡雙檐(yan)大開(kai)間(jian),上蓋生鐵(tie)鑄(zhu)瓦。寺(si)(si)屬水田(tian)一百馀(yu)畝、山林三(san)千三(san)百馀(yu)畝。寺(si)(si)中(zhong)尚(shang)存千年古銀(yin)杏(xing)十(shi)馀(yu)株,其中(zhong)有(you)唐(tang)朝道膺禪(chan)師手(shou)植者,直徑(jing)達二(er)米,拔地參天,蓊郁蒼(cang)翠。寺(si)(si)內(nei)還(huan)保(bao)留著(zhu)南(nan)宋至明(ming)代的出土文物(wu),清康熙年間(jian)鑄(zhu)造的千僧(seng)大鐵(tie)鍋等(deng)。寺(si)(si)廟周圍有(you)歷代僧(seng)塔二(er)十(shi)馀(yu)座(zuo),寺(si)(si)前還(huan)保(bao)留著(zhu)佛印與蘇東坡的談(tan)心石以(yi)及趙州關、明(ming)月湖等(deng)字樣石刻多處。
出(chu)寺門,梯田節節,山坡(po)綠草如茵(yin)、灌木成林(lin),沿坡(po)上有(you)溪水(shui)(shui)環流,水(shui)(shui)色清碧,終年不涸,名(ming)(ming)為碧溪。佛(fo)印橋飛架(jia)碧溪,蘇(su)東坡(po)曾為之寫下(xia)詩(shi)句:「欲(yu)與白論心事(shi),碧溪橋下(xia)水(shui)(shui)潺潺。」聽(ting)畔有(you)巨石(shi),瑩潔平(ping)整,石(shi)下(xia)流水(shui)(shui)淙淙,石(shi)旁古(gu)樹濃陰,相傳蘇(su)東坡(po)與佛(fo)印和(he)尚曾談經論法於此(ci),故名(ming)(ming)「談心石(shi)」。