臺山(shan)廣(guang)海(hai)城(cheng)東(dong)象山(shan)之(zhi)靈湖(hu)(hu)(hu)寺(si)(si)(si),建(jian)于(yu)(yu)南(nan)(nan)北(bei)朝時(shi)期,寺(si)(si)(si)依象山(shan)玄(xuan)武(wu)(wu),呈(cheng)瑞象,左有(you)(you)(you)(you)蓮花山(shan)(0青龍),右有(you)(you)(you)(you)虎頭山(shan)(0白虎),前(qian)(qian)有(you)(you)(you)(you)沙堤(di)﹡大小二排斷中(zhong)為小象(做(zuo)朱雀案山(shan)供養)自然成(cheng)湖(hu)(hu)(hu),故名(ming)靈湖(hu)(hu)(hu)。源于(yu)(yu)梁武(wu)(wu)帝天監(jian)元年(nian)(nian)(公元502年(nian)(nian))天竺(印(yin)度(du)(du))高僧智藥三藏法(fa)(fa)師(shi);帶兩棵(ke)菩(pu)(pu)提(ti)圣(sheng)樹(shu)(shu),浮(fu)海(hai)來(lai)華(hua),因臺風受阻,于(yu)(yu)廣(guang)海(hai)靈湖(hu)(hu)(hu)登陸(lu),建(jian)阿蘭若居之(zhi)。并(bing)在伽藍內植(zhi)下(xia)(xia)中(zhong)國第一棵(ke)菩(pu)(pu)提(ti)樹(shu)(shu)。智藥三藏后(hou)前(qian)(qian)往廣(guang)州(zhou)光孝(xiao)(xiao)寺(si)(si)(si)于(yu)(yu)戒壇上植(zhi)下(xia)(xia)第二棵(ke)菩(pu)(pu)提(ti)樹(shu)(shu),并(bing)立碑預言(yan)“170年(nian)(nian)后(hou)將有(you)(you)(you)(you)一肉身菩(pu)(pu)提(ti)于(yu)(yu)這棵(ke)樹(shu)(shu)下(xia)(xia),開(kai)演無上微妙(miao)法(fa)(fa),傳佛(fo)心(xin)印(yin),度(du)(du)無量(liang)眾(zhong)生”,之(zhi)后(hou)前(qian)(qian)往韶(shao)關(guan)曲江曹(cao)溪寶(bao)林山(shan)開(kai)山(shan)創建(jian)南(nan)(nan)華(hua)寺(si)(si)(si),并(bing)再(zai)次(ci)(ci)立碑預言(yan)“176年(nian)(nian)后(hou)將有(you)(you)(you)(you)一肉身菩(pu)(pu)薩來(lai)此:演無上法(fa)(fa)寶(bao)得道者如林”。唐龍塑元年(nian)(nian)辛酉禪(chan)宗六(liu)祖(zu)惠(hui)能祖(zu)師(shi)自湖(hu)(hu)(hu)北(bei)黃梅五(wu)祖(zu)處得法(fa)(fa)南(nan)(nan)歸。丙(bing)子二月初八在廣(guang)州(zhou)光孝(xiao)(xiao)寺(si)(si)(si)智藥三藏法(fa)(fa)師(shi)手植(zhi)菩(pu)(pu)提(ti)樹(shu)(shu)下(xia)(xia)剃度(du)(du)受戒。后(hou)前(qian)(qian)往韶(shao)關(guan)曹(cao)溪寶(bao)林山(shan)中(zhong)興南(nan)(nan)華(hua)寺(si)(si)(si)并(bing)弘(hong)揚頓悟(wu)法(fa)(fa)門。因智藥三藏法(fa)(fa)師(shi)兩次(ci)(ci)有(you)(you)(you)(you)關(guan)六(liu)祖(zu)的(de)預言(yan)得到印(yin)證,遂成(cheng)千古頌,故名(ming)靈湖(hu)(hu)(hu)寺(si)(si)(si)。留(liu)下(xia)(xia)勝因,香(xiang)(xiang)火益盛,寺(si)(si)(si)宇塑像,堂皇古雅(ya),蓮燈長(chang)明,向有(you)(you)(you)(you)吉祥福地之(zhi)稱。廣(guang)海(hai)城(cheng)東(dong)蓮花洋上大象馱小象,代代出和(he)尚(shang),早(zao)弛圣(sheng)域之(zhi)譽,歷史(shi)(shi)悠久(jiu),寺(si)(si)(si)之(zhi)名(ming)號益顯。年(nian)(nian)久(jiu)代湮,殿閣災余,金色消沉(chen)。靈湖(hu)(hu)(hu)寺(si)(si)(si)初毀于(yu)(yu)宋末,元至(zhi)正8年(nian)(nian)(1348年(nian)(nian))重(zhong)(zhong)建(jian),明洪武(wu)(wu)30年(nian)(nian)(1397年(nian)(nian))重(zhong)(zhong)修,清咸(xian)豐6年(nian)(nian)(1856年(nian)(nian))至(zhi)同治二年(nian)(nian)(1863年(nian)(nian))土(tu)客紛爭,寺(si)(si)(si)宇被焚,僅焦土(tu)。光緒10年(nian)(nian)(1884年(nian)(nian))廣(guang)海(hai)奇石(shi)彭鳳桐(tong)志慕云林主持重(zhong)(zhong)建(jian)。峻工后(hou)善行圓滿,整座嶺南(nan)(nan)建(jian)筑,布局宏偉壯觀,即(ji)易名(ming)“靈湖(hu)(hu)(hu)古寺(si)(si)(si)”。1937年(nian)(nian)寺(si)(si)(si)又遭洗(xi)劫。1947年(nian)(nian)住持繼慈法(fa)(fa)師(shi)得0檀越。奇石(shi)建(jian)筑商余沛(pei)捐香(xiang)(xiang)資略加維修。后(hou)由于(yu)(yu)發生震動(dong),歷史(shi)(shi)沿革,世法(fa)(fa)無常,年(nian)(nian)代變遷名(ming)寺(si)(si)(si)淪為療養院(yuan)及駐軍牧馬之(zhi)場地。
際茲國(guo)運(yun)興隆,宗教(jiao)政(zheng)(zheng)策落實,靈湖寺教(jiao)產(chan)歸還佛(fo)教(jiao)界管理。2006年7月11日(ri)原廣(guang)州大(da)(da)佛(fo)寺常住僧人(ren)(ren)釋仁偉為還乙酉仲廈夢中(zhong)愿(yuan),經(jing)臺山(shan)(shan)市博物館領導介紹來寺,主持(chi)恢復,重(zhong)興祖(zu)師道場。古(gu)寺滿目瘡痍,師嘆:“禪(chan)林凋零,梵剎之凄清”。恒蓄興建(jian)宏愿(yuan),趁政(zheng)(zheng)策之修(xiu)明,善(shan)因夙愿(yuan),法緣廣(guang)洽,心(xin)殷圣域(yu)重(zhong)光(guang)(guang)。承蒙廣(guang)東省江門市政(zheng)(zheng)協、臺山(shan)(shan)市政(zheng)(zheng)府、廣(guang)海(hai)鎮各(ge)級領導支持(chi)及海(hai)內外眾(zhong)善(shan)信(xin)(xin)之扶持(chi),智藥三藏祖(zu)師常寂光(guang)(guang)中(zhong)加持(chi)。涓吉丙戌年觀音出(chu)家吉日(ri)動(dong)土修(xiu)復靈湖寺兜率(lv)內院(yuan),同年季(ji)冬26日(ri)竣工(gong),歷時數月,工(gong)程費用(yong)龐大(da)(da)。緣荷嶺南(nan)善(shan)信(xin)(xin)居士動(dong)員廣(guang)州、深(shen)圳(zhen)、中(zhong)山(shan)(shan)、佛(fo)山(shan)(shan)、江門等(deng)地信(xin)(xin)眾(zhong)發菩提心(xin)、植大(da)(da)福田捐(juan)資建(jian)寺,數額(e)尤巨,并得(de)江門大(da)(da)檀越居士助籌(chou)香(xiang)資迎(ying)請玉佛(fo)及裝飾(shi)殿堂用(yong)品。靈湖有緣善(shan)信(xin)(xin)聯(lian)合番禺大(da)(da)石(shi)眾(zhong)善(shan)信(xin)(xin)為靈湖寺做大(da)(da)須彌(mi)山(shan)(shan)。大(da)(da)放光(guang)(guang)明。隨后東莞廣(guang)海(hai)同鄉(xiang)會(hui)同仁發心(xin)捐(juan)殿外銅香(xiang)爐鋪(pu)砌180平方米花崗(gang)巖石(shi)板于寺前廣(guang)場。各(ge)大(da)(da)善(shan)人(ren)(ren)崇圣同懷,慷慨豪(hao)舉協應,共(gong)修(xiu)德業,事(shi)功(gong)(gong)告(gao)成,衹(qi)園再現(xian),梵宇琳宮飾(shi)成;佛(fo)光(guang)(guang)普照,金洲寶界通明;海(hai)潮(chao)音起,磬唄響徹云宵;蓮云法雨,福澤人(ren)(ren)天無(wu)涯。為褒揚(yang)德事(shi),贊譽(yu)善(shan)人(ren)(ren),乃備(bei)勒(le)石(shi)。光(guang)(guang)昭(zhao)功(gong)(gong)德。