唐(tang)僖(xi)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)中和三年(八八三年),曹洞(dong)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)二(er)祖道膺(ying)禪(chan)(chan)(chan)師來(lai)(lai)主(zhu)此(ci)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan),僧眾云(yun)(yun)集一(yi)千五百馀人,唐(tang)僖(xi)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)賜額「龍昌禪(chan)(chan)(chan)院」。道膺(ying)禪(chan)(chan)(chan)師(八三五~九(jiu)〇二(er)年),是佛教(jiao)(jiao)禪(chan)(chan)(chan)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)五宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)之一(yi)曹洞(dong)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)洞(dong)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)法(fa)(fa)系(xi)的傳人。禪(chan)(chan)(chan)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)從(cong)初(chu)祖菩(pu)提達摩創建后(hou),傳到六(liu)祖惠能時分南宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)惠能,北宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)神秀,其后(hou)又(you)分化為(wei)溈仰宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)、臨濟宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)、曹洞(dong)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)、云(yun)(yun)門(men)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)、法(fa)(fa)眼(yan)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)五個派別(bie)。曹洞(dong)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)由(you)良價(八〇七~八六(liu)九(jiu)年)和本寂(八四(si)〇~九(jiu)〇一(yi)年)分別(bie)在江西洞(dong)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)和曹山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)創立,主(zhu)要(yao)是宣傳理事不(bu)二(er)、體用無(wu)礙的思想(xiang),「家風細密(mi),言行相應(ying),隨(sui)機利物(wu),就語接人」。而曹山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)這一(yi)法(fa)(fa)系(xi)四(si)傳后(hou)就斷(duan)絕了,只靠(kao)洞(dong)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)法(fa)(fa)系(xi)道膺(ying)禪(chan)(chan)(chan)師一(yi)脈在云(yun)(yun)居山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)真(zhen)如(ru)(ru)寺(si)弘法(fa)(fa),使之得以綿延流傳下來(lai)(lai)。從(cong)這個意義上說,真(zhen)如(ru)(ru)寺(si)是曹洞(dong)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)的源地(di)。禪(chan)(chan)(chan)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)五宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)中,溈仰、云(yun)(yun)門(men)、法(fa)(fa)眼(yan)三宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)在宋朝以后(hou)都(dou)失傳了,只有臨濟和曹洞(dong)二(er)家保(bao)存下來(lai)(lai)。由(you)此(ci)也可(ke)看到云(yun)(yun)居山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)真(zhen)如(ru)(ru)寺(si)在佛教(jiao)(jiao)史上的地(di)位(wei)。
道(dao)膺(ying)禪師(shi)住持龍昌禪院(yuan)三(san)十年,圓寂后 弘(hong)覺禪師(shi)。在(zai)五(wu)代至(zhi)宋(song)(song)這段時間里(li),先后有道(dao)簡、道(dao)昌、懷岳、懷滿、德緣、智深住持,仍提倡曹洞(dong)宗(zong)(zong)。北宋(song)(song)大中祥符(fu)年間(一〇〇八~一〇一六年),宋(song)(song)真宗(zong)(zong)敕改名(ming)為「真如(ru)禪寺(si)」,一直沿習至(zhi)今(jin)。
真如寺(si)現塔(ta)(ta)林(lin)有(you)建筑(zhu)面積約(yue)一萬平方(fang)米(mi),主體建筑(zhu)為天王殿(dian)、大雄寶殿(dian)、法堂、玉佛殿(dian)、禪(chan)堂、虛云(yun)老和尚紀念(nian)堂、寮房等,多為磚木(mu)結構的宮(gong)殿(dian)式重廡雙檐大開(kai)間,上蓋生鐵鑄瓦(wa)。寺(si)屬(shu)水田一百馀畝(mu)、山林(lin)三(san)千(qian)三(san)百馀畝(mu)。寺(si)中尚存千(qian)年(nian)古(gu)銀杏十(shi)馀株,其中有(you)唐(tang)朝道膺(ying)禪(chan)師手植者,直徑達(da)二(er)米(mi),拔(ba)地參天,蓊郁(yu)蒼翠。寺(si)內(nei)還(huan)保留著(zhu)南(nan)宋至(zhi)明代(dai)的出土文物,清康熙年(nian)間鑄造的千(qian)僧(seng)大鐵鍋等。寺(si)廟周圍有(you)歷代(dai)僧(seng)塔(ta)(ta)二(er)十(shi)馀座,寺(si)前(qian)還(huan)保留著(zhu)佛印與蘇(su)東坡的談心石以(yi)及趙州關、明月湖等字樣(yang)石刻多處。
出(chu)寺門,梯田節節,山坡綠草如(ru)茵、灌木(mu)成林,沿坡上有溪水環流,水色清碧(bi),終(zhong)年不涸(he),名(ming)(ming)為碧(bi)溪。佛(fo)印橋飛(fei)架碧(bi)溪,蘇東坡曾為之寫下(xia)(xia)詩句:「欲(yu)與(yu)白論(lun)心(xin)事,碧(bi)溪橋下(xia)(xia)水潺潺。」聽(ting)畔有巨(ju)石,瑩(ying)潔平整,石下(xia)(xia)流水淙(cong)(cong)淙(cong)(cong),石旁(pang)古樹濃陰,相(xiang)傳蘇東坡與(yu)佛(fo)印和尚(shang)曾談(tan)經論(lun)法於此,故名(ming)(ming)「談(tan)心(xin)石」。