臺(tai)山(shan)廣(guang)海城東(dong)象(xiang)山(shan)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)靈(ling)(ling)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu)寺(si),建(jian)(jian)于南(nan)北朝時期,寺(si)依象(xiang)山(shan)玄武,呈瑞象(xiang),左有(you)蓮花(hua)山(shan)(0青龍),右有(you)虎頭山(shan)(0白虎),前(qian)(qian)有(you)沙堤﹡大小(xiao)二(er)排斷(duan)中為(wei)小(xiao)象(xiang)(做朱(zhu)雀案山(shan)供(gong)養)自然(ran)成湖(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu),故(gu)名(ming)靈(ling)(ling)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu)。源于梁(liang)武帝天監元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(公元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)502年(nian)(nian)(nian))天竺(zhu)(印度(du)(du))高僧智(zhi)藥(yao)(yao)三藏法師(shi);帶(dai)兩棵(ke)(ke)菩(pu)(pu)提圣樹(shu)(shu),浮海來華,因臺(tai)風受阻,于廣(guang)海靈(ling)(ling)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu)登陸(lu),建(jian)(jian)阿(a)蘭若(ruo)居之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)。并在(zai)伽藍(lan)內(nei)植下中國第一棵(ke)(ke)菩(pu)(pu)提樹(shu)(shu)。智(zhi)藥(yao)(yao)三藏后(hou)前(qian)(qian)往(wang)廣(guang)州光孝寺(si)于戒(jie)壇上植下第二(er)棵(ke)(ke)菩(pu)(pu)提樹(shu)(shu),并立(li)碑(bei)預(yu)(yu)言“170年(nian)(nian)(nian)后(hou)將有(you)一肉身(shen)菩(pu)(pu)提于這(zhe)棵(ke)(ke)樹(shu)(shu)下,開演(yan)(yan)無上微妙法,傳佛心印,度(du)(du)無量眾生(sheng)”,之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)后(hou)前(qian)(qian)往(wang)韶關(guan)曲江曹(cao)溪(xi)寶林(lin)山(shan)開山(shan)創(chuang)建(jian)(jian)南(nan)華寺(si),并再次(ci)立(li)碑(bei)預(yu)(yu)言“176年(nian)(nian)(nian)后(hou)將有(you)一肉身(shen)菩(pu)(pu)薩來此:演(yan)(yan)無上法寶得道者如(ru)林(lin)”。唐(tang)龍塑(su)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)辛酉(you)禪宗(zong)六(liu)祖惠能(neng)祖師(shi)自湖(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu)北黃梅五(wu)祖處得法南(nan)歸。丙子(zi)二(er)月初(chu)八(ba)在(zai)廣(guang)州光孝寺(si)智(zhi)藥(yao)(yao)三藏法師(shi)手植菩(pu)(pu)提樹(shu)(shu)下剃度(du)(du)受戒(jie)。后(hou)前(qian)(qian)往(wang)韶關(guan)曹(cao)溪(xi)寶林(lin)山(shan)中興南(nan)華寺(si)并弘揚頓(dun)悟法門。因智(zhi)藥(yao)(yao)三藏法師(shi)兩次(ci)有(you)關(guan)六(liu)祖的預(yu)(yu)言得到印證,遂成千古頌(song),故(gu)名(ming)靈(ling)(ling)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu)寺(si)。留下勝因,香(xiang)火益(yi)盛,寺(si)宇(yu)塑(su)像,堂(tang)皇古雅(ya),蓮燈(deng)長明,向有(you)吉祥福地之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)稱。廣(guang)海城東(dong)蓮花(hua)洋上大象(xiang)馱(tuo)小(xiao)象(xiang),代(dai)代(dai)出和尚,早弛(chi)圣域(yu)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)譽,歷史悠久,寺(si)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)名(ming)號益(yi)顯。年(nian)(nian)(nian)久代(dai)湮,殿閣災余(yu),金色消(xiao)沉。靈(ling)(ling)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu)寺(si)初(chu)毀于宋(song)末,元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)至(zhi)正8年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1348年(nian)(nian)(nian))重(zhong)建(jian)(jian),明洪武30年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1397年(nian)(nian)(nian))重(zhong)修(xiu),清咸豐6年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1856年(nian)(nian)(nian))至(zhi)同治二(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1863年(nian)(nian)(nian))土客紛爭(zheng),寺(si)宇(yu)被焚,僅(jin)焦土。光緒10年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1884年(nian)(nian)(nian))廣(guang)海奇(qi)石彭鳳桐志慕云(yun)林(lin)主持重(zhong)建(jian)(jian)。峻工后(hou)善行圓滿,整座(zuo)嶺(ling)南(nan)建(jian)(jian)筑,布局宏偉壯觀,即易名(ming)“靈(ling)(ling)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu)古寺(si)”。1937年(nian)(nian)(nian)寺(si)又遭洗劫。1947年(nian)(nian)(nian)住持繼慈法師(shi)得0檀越。奇(qi)石建(jian)(jian)筑商余(yu)沛捐(juan)香(xiang)資(zi)略(lve)加維修(xiu)。后(hou)由于發(fa)生(sheng)震動,歷史沿革,世法無常(chang),年(nian)(nian)(nian)代(dai)變遷名(ming)寺(si)淪為(wei)療養院及駐軍(jun)牧馬之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)場地。
際茲國運興隆(long),宗教(jiao)政(zheng)策落(luo)實,靈(ling)(ling)湖寺(si)教(jiao)產歸還(huan)佛(fo)教(jiao)界管理。2006年(nian)7月(yue)11日(ri)原(yuan)廣(guang)州大(da)佛(fo)寺(si)常住僧人(ren)釋仁偉為還(huan)乙酉仲廈夢(meng)中(zhong)愿,經臺山(shan)市博物館領導(dao)介紹來寺(si),主持(chi)恢復(fu)(fu),重興祖師道場(chang)(chang)。古寺(si)滿目瘡痍,師嘆:“禪林凋零(ling),梵剎之(zhi)(zhi)凄清”。恒蓄興建宏愿,趁(chen)政(zheng)策之(zhi)(zhi)修(xiu)明(ming),善(shan)(shan)因夙(su)愿,法緣廣(guang)洽,心(xin)殷圣域重光(guang)(guang)。承蒙(meng)廣(guang)東省江門市政(zheng)協(xie)、臺山(shan)市政(zheng)府、廣(guang)海(hai)(hai)(hai)鎮各(ge)級領導(dao)支(zhi)持(chi)及(ji)海(hai)(hai)(hai)內外眾善(shan)(shan)信之(zhi)(zhi)扶持(chi),智藥三藏(zang)祖師常寂(ji)光(guang)(guang)中(zhong)加持(chi)。涓(juan)吉丙戌年(nian)觀音出(chu)家吉日(ri)動土修(xiu)復(fu)(fu)靈(ling)(ling)湖寺(si)兜(dou)率內院,同(tong)年(nian)季冬26日(ri)竣工,歷時數(shu)月(yue),工程費用龐(pang)大(da)。緣荷嶺南善(shan)(shan)信居(ju)士動員廣(guang)州、深圳、中(zhong)山(shan)、佛(fo)山(shan)、江門等地信眾發(fa)菩提(ti)心(xin)、植大(da)福(fu)田捐(juan)資建寺(si),數(shu)額尤巨,并得江門大(da)檀越(yue)居(ju)士助(zhu)籌(chou)香(xiang)資迎(ying)請玉(yu)佛(fo)及(ji)裝飾殿(dian)堂(tang)用品。靈(ling)(ling)湖有緣善(shan)(shan)信聯合番禺大(da)石眾善(shan)(shan)信為靈(ling)(ling)湖寺(si)做大(da)須彌山(shan)。大(da)放(fang)光(guang)(guang)明(ming)。隨后(hou)東莞廣(guang)海(hai)(hai)(hai)同(tong)鄉(xiang)會同(tong)仁發(fa)心(xin)捐(juan)殿(dian)外銅香(xiang)爐鋪(pu)砌180平(ping)方米花崗巖石板于寺(si)前廣(guang)場(chang)(chang)。各(ge)大(da)善(shan)(shan)人(ren)崇圣同(tong)懷,慷(kang)慨豪舉協(xie)應,共修(xiu)德業(ye),事功告成,衹園再現,梵宇琳宮飾成;佛(fo)光(guang)(guang)普照,金洲寶界通明(ming);海(hai)(hai)(hai)潮音起,磬(qing)唄響徹云宵;蓮云法雨(yu),福(fu)澤(ze)人(ren)天無(wu)涯。為褒揚(yang)德事,贊譽善(shan)(shan)人(ren),乃備勒石。光(guang)(guang)昭功德。