唐(tang)僖宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)中(zhong)和三(san)年(nian)(八(ba)八(ba)三(san)年(nian)),曹(cao)(cao)洞(dong)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)二(er)祖道膺禪師(shi)來主此(ci)山(shan),僧眾(zhong)云(yun)(yun)(yun)集(ji)一(yi)千五百馀(yu)人,唐(tang)僖宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)賜(si)額「龍(long)昌禪院」。道膺禪師(shi)(八(ba)三(san)五~九〇二(er)年(nian)),是(shi)(shi)(shi)佛(fo)教禪宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)五宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)之(zhi)一(yi)曹(cao)(cao)洞(dong)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)洞(dong)山(shan)法系的傳人。禪宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)從初祖菩提達摩創建后(hou)(hou)(hou),傳到(dao)六祖惠(hui)能時分(fen)南(nan)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)惠(hui)能,北宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)神秀,其后(hou)(hou)(hou)又(you)分(fen)化(hua)為溈仰宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)、臨濟宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)、曹(cao)(cao)洞(dong)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)、云(yun)(yun)(yun)門宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)、法眼宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)五個派別(bie)。曹(cao)(cao)洞(dong)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)由良(liang)價(八(ba)〇七~八(ba)六九年(nian))和本(ben)寂(八(ba)四(si)〇~九〇一(yi)年(nian))分(fen)別(bie)在(zai)江西洞(dong)山(shan)和曹(cao)(cao)山(shan)創立,主要(yao)是(shi)(shi)(shi)宣傳理事不二(er)、體用無(wu)礙的思(si)想,「家風細密,言行(xing)相應,隨機利物(wu),就語接人」。而曹(cao)(cao)山(shan)這(zhe)一(yi)法系四(si)傳后(hou)(hou)(hou)就斷絕了(le),只靠洞(dong)山(shan)法系道膺禪師(shi)一(yi)脈在(zai)云(yun)(yun)(yun)居山(shan)真如寺弘(hong)法,使之(zhi)得以綿延流傳下(xia)來。從這(zhe)個意義上說,真如寺是(shi)(shi)(shi)曹(cao)(cao)洞(dong)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)的源地(di)。禪宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)五宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)中(zhong),溈仰、云(yun)(yun)(yun)門、法眼三(san)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)(zong)在(zai)宋朝以后(hou)(hou)(hou)都(dou)失傳了(le),只有臨濟和曹(cao)(cao)洞(dong)二(er)家保存下(xia)來。由此(ci)也可看到(dao)云(yun)(yun)(yun)居山(shan)真如寺在(zai)佛(fo)教史上的地(di)位。
道膺禪師(shi)住持(chi)龍昌禪院三十年,圓寂后 弘覺禪師(shi)。在五(wu)代(dai)至宋這段時(shi)間(jian)里,先后有道簡(jian)、道昌、懷岳、懷滿、德緣、智深住持(chi),仍提倡曹洞宗(zong)。北宋大中祥符年間(jian)(一〇〇八(ba)~一〇一六年),宋真宗(zong)敕改名為「真如(ru)禪寺」,一直(zhi)沿習(xi)至今。
真如寺(si)(si)現(xian)塔林(lin)有建(jian)筑(zhu)面積約一萬平方(fang)米(mi),主體建(jian)筑(zhu)為(wei)天王(wang)殿(dian)、大雄寶(bao)殿(dian)、法堂、玉(yu)佛殿(dian)、禪堂、虛云老和尚紀念堂、寮房(fang)等(deng),多為(wei)磚木結構的(de)宮殿(dian)式重廡雙檐大開(kai)間,上蓋生鐵(tie)鑄(zhu)(zhu)瓦(wa)。寺(si)(si)屬水田一百(bai)馀(yu)畝、山林(lin)三千(qian)三百(bai)馀(yu)畝。寺(si)(si)中尚存千(qian)年(nian)古銀杏十馀(yu)株,其中有唐朝道(dao)膺禪師手植者,直徑達二米(mi),拔地參天,蓊郁(yu)蒼翠。寺(si)(si)內(nei)還保留(liu)著南宋至明代(dai)的(de)出土文物,清康熙年(nian)間鑄(zhu)(zhu)造的(de)千(qian)僧大鐵(tie)鍋等(deng)。寺(si)(si)廟周(zhou)圍有歷(li)代(dai)僧塔二十馀(yu)座(zuo),寺(si)(si)前還保留(liu)著佛印(yin)與蘇東坡(po)的(de)談心石(shi)(shi)以(yi)及趙(zhao)州關、明月湖(hu)等(deng)字樣石(shi)(shi)刻多處。
出寺門,梯田節節,山坡綠草如(ru)茵(yin)、灌木成林,沿坡上有(you)溪(xi)(xi)(xi)水(shui)(shui)環(huan)流,水(shui)(shui)色清碧(bi),終年不涸,名(ming)為碧(bi)溪(xi)(xi)(xi)。佛印橋飛架(jia)碧(bi)溪(xi)(xi)(xi),蘇東坡曾為之寫下(xia)詩句:「欲與白論(lun)心事(shi),碧(bi)溪(xi)(xi)(xi)橋下(xia)水(shui)(shui)潺潺。」聽畔(pan)有(you)巨石,瑩潔平整(zheng),石下(xia)流水(shui)(shui)淙淙,石旁古樹濃陰,相(xiang)傳蘇東坡與佛印和尚曾談經(jing)論(lun)法於(wu)此(ci),故名(ming)「談心石」。