臺山(shan)廣(guang)海城東象(xiang)山(shan)之(zhi)靈湖(hu)(hu)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)(si),建(jian)(jian)于(yu)南北(bei)朝時期,寺(si)(si)(si)(si)(si)依象(xiang)山(shan)玄武,呈(cheng)瑞象(xiang),左有蓮(lian)花山(shan)(0青(qing)龍),右(you)有虎頭山(shan)(0白虎),前(qian)有沙堤(di)﹡大(da)小(xiao)二(er)排斷(duan)中(zhong)為小(xiao)象(xiang)(做朱雀案山(shan)供(gong)養)自(zi)(zi)然成(cheng)湖(hu)(hu),故名(ming)靈湖(hu)(hu)。源于(yu)梁(liang)武帝天(tian)監元年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(公元502年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))天(tian)竺(印(yin)度(du))高(gao)僧智(zhi)藥(yao)三藏法(fa)師;帶(dai)兩(liang)(liang)棵菩(pu)(pu)提(ti)圣樹(shu),浮(fu)海來(lai)(lai)華(hua),因(yin)臺風受(shou)阻,于(yu)廣(guang)海靈湖(hu)(hu)登(deng)陸,建(jian)(jian)阿蘭若居之(zhi)。并(bing)在(zai)伽藍(lan)內植(zhi)(zhi)下(xia)中(zhong)國第一(yi)棵菩(pu)(pu)提(ti)樹(shu)。智(zhi)藥(yao)三藏后(hou)(hou)前(qian)往(wang)(wang)廣(guang)州(zhou)光孝(xiao)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)(si)于(yu)戒(jie)壇上植(zhi)(zhi)下(xia)第二(er)棵菩(pu)(pu)提(ti)樹(shu),并(bing)立碑(bei)預言(yan)“170年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)后(hou)(hou)將(jiang)有一(yi)肉身(shen)菩(pu)(pu)提(ti)于(yu)這棵樹(shu)下(xia),開演(yan)無(wu)(wu)上微(wei)妙法(fa),傳佛心印(yin),度(du)無(wu)(wu)量眾生”,之(zhi)后(hou)(hou)前(qian)往(wang)(wang)韶關(guan)(guan)(guan)曲江曹溪寶林山(shan)開山(shan)創建(jian)(jian)南華(hua)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)(si),并(bing)再次立碑(bei)預言(yan)“176年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)后(hou)(hou)將(jiang)有一(yi)肉身(shen)菩(pu)(pu)薩來(lai)(lai)此:演(yan)無(wu)(wu)上法(fa)寶得(de)道(dao)者如(ru)林”。唐龍塑(su)元年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)辛酉禪宗六祖(zu)惠能祖(zu)師自(zi)(zi)湖(hu)(hu)北(bei)黃梅五祖(zu)處得(de)法(fa)南歸。丙子二(er)月初(chu)八在(zai)廣(guang)州(zhou)光孝(xiao)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)(si)智(zhi)藥(yao)三藏法(fa)師手植(zhi)(zhi)菩(pu)(pu)提(ti)樹(shu)下(xia)剃(ti)度(du)受(shou)戒(jie)。后(hou)(hou)前(qian)往(wang)(wang)韶關(guan)(guan)(guan)曹溪寶林山(shan)中(zhong)興南華(hua)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)(si)并(bing)弘揚頓悟法(fa)門。因(yin)智(zhi)藥(yao)三藏法(fa)師兩(liang)(liang)次有關(guan)(guan)(guan)六祖(zu)的預言(yan)得(de)到印(yin)證,遂(sui)成(cheng)千古頌,故名(ming)靈湖(hu)(hu)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)(si)。留下(xia)勝因(yin),香火益(yi)盛,寺(si)(si)(si)(si)(si)宇塑(su)像,堂皇古雅(ya),蓮(lian)燈長明(ming),向有吉祥福地(di)之(zhi)稱。廣(guang)海城東蓮(lian)花洋上大(da)象(xiang)馱小(xiao)象(xiang),代(dai)(dai)代(dai)(dai)出(chu)和尚,早(zao)弛圣域之(zhi)譽,歷史悠久(jiu),寺(si)(si)(si)(si)(si)之(zhi)名(ming)號益(yi)顯(xian)。年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)久(jiu)代(dai)(dai)湮,殿閣災(zai)余,金色消(xiao)沉。靈湖(hu)(hu)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)(si)初(chu)毀于(yu)宋末(mo),元至正8年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1348年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))重(zhong)(zhong)建(jian)(jian),明(ming)洪武30年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1397年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))重(zhong)(zhong)修,清(qing)咸豐6年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1856年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))至同治二(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1863年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))土客紛爭,寺(si)(si)(si)(si)(si)宇被焚,僅(jin)焦土。光緒10年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1884年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))廣(guang)海奇石彭鳳(feng)桐志慕云林主(zhu)持(chi)重(zhong)(zhong)建(jian)(jian)。峻工后(hou)(hou)善(shan)行(xing)圓滿,整座嶺(ling)南建(jian)(jian)筑,布局宏偉壯(zhuang)觀,即易(yi)名(ming)“靈湖(hu)(hu)古寺(si)(si)(si)(si)(si)”。1937年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)(si)又遭(zao)洗劫。1947年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)住持(chi)繼慈法(fa)師得(de)0檀越。奇石建(jian)(jian)筑商(shang)余沛捐香資(zi)略加維(wei)修。后(hou)(hou)由于(yu)發生震動(dong),歷史沿革,世(shi)法(fa)無(wu)(wu)常(chang),年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)代(dai)(dai)變遷名(ming)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)(si)淪(lun)為療養院及駐軍牧馬之(zhi)場地(di)。
際茲(zi)國(guo)運興(xing)隆,宗教(jiao)(jiao)政(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)策(ce)落實(shi),靈湖寺(si)教(jiao)(jiao)產歸還佛教(jiao)(jiao)界(jie)管理。2006年7月11日(ri)原廣(guang)(guang)州(zhou)大(da)(da)佛寺(si)常(chang)住僧(seng)人(ren)釋仁(ren)偉為還乙(yi)酉仲廈夢中愿,經(jing)臺山(shan)(shan)市博(bo)物館領導介紹來(lai)寺(si),主持(chi)(chi)恢(hui)復,重興(xing)祖(zu)師道場(chang)。古寺(si)滿(man)目瘡痍,師嘆(tan):“禪林凋(diao)零,梵(fan)剎之凄(qi)清”。恒蓄興(xing)建宏愿,趁政(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)策(ce)之修明(ming),善(shan)(shan)因夙愿,法緣(yuan)廣(guang)(guang)洽(qia),心(xin)(xin)殷圣域重光(guang)(guang)。承蒙廣(guang)(guang)東省江(jiang)門(men)市政(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)協、臺山(shan)(shan)市政(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)府(fu)、廣(guang)(guang)海鎮各(ge)級領導支持(chi)(chi)及海內(nei)(nei)外(wai)眾(zhong)善(shan)(shan)信(xin)(xin)之扶持(chi)(chi),智藥三藏祖(zu)師常(chang)寂光(guang)(guang)中加(jia)持(chi)(chi)。涓(juan)吉丙(bing)戌年觀音(yin)出家吉日(ri)動(dong)土(tu)修復靈湖寺(si)兜(dou)率內(nei)(nei)院,同(tong)年季(ji)冬26日(ri)竣工,歷時數月,工程費用龐大(da)(da)。緣(yuan)荷嶺南(nan)善(shan)(shan)信(xin)(xin)居士(shi)動(dong)員廣(guang)(guang)州(zhou)、深圳、中山(shan)(shan)、佛山(shan)(shan)、江(jiang)門(men)等(deng)地信(xin)(xin)眾(zhong)發(fa)菩(pu)提心(xin)(xin)、植大(da)(da)福田捐(juan)資建寺(si),數額尤巨(ju),并得江(jiang)門(men)大(da)(da)檀越居士(shi)助籌香資迎請玉佛及裝飾殿堂用品(pin)。靈湖有緣(yuan)善(shan)(shan)信(xin)(xin)聯合番禺大(da)(da)石(shi)眾(zhong)善(shan)(shan)信(xin)(xin)為靈湖寺(si)做大(da)(da)須彌山(shan)(shan)。大(da)(da)放光(guang)(guang)明(ming)。隨后東莞廣(guang)(guang)海同(tong)鄉會同(tong)仁(ren)發(fa)心(xin)(xin)捐(juan)殿外(wai)銅香爐(lu)鋪砌180平(ping)方米花崗巖石(shi)板于寺(si)前廣(guang)(guang)場(chang)。各(ge)大(da)(da)善(shan)(shan)人(ren)崇圣同(tong)懷,慷慨(kai)豪(hao)舉協應(ying),共修德(de)業(ye),事(shi)功(gong)告成,衹園再(zai)現,梵(fan)宇琳宮飾成;佛光(guang)(guang)普照,金洲寶界(jie)通明(ming);海潮音(yin)起,磬唄響徹(che)云(yun)宵;蓮云(yun)法雨,福澤人(ren)天(tian)無涯。為褒揚德(de)事(shi),贊(zan)譽善(shan)(shan)人(ren),乃備勒石(shi)。光(guang)(guang)昭功(gong)德(de)。