臺(tai)山(shan)(shan)(shan)廣(guang)海城東象山(shan)(shan)(shan)之(zhi)靈(ling)(ling)湖(hu)(hu)寺(si)(si),建(jian)(jian)(jian)于(yu)南(nan)北朝時期(qi),寺(si)(si)依象山(shan)(shan)(shan)玄(xuan)武,呈瑞象,左有蓮(lian)花山(shan)(shan)(shan)(0青龍),右有虎(hu)(hu)頭山(shan)(shan)(shan)(0白(bai)虎(hu)(hu)),前(qian)有沙堤﹡大小(xiao)二排斷中(zhong)為小(xiao)象(做朱雀案山(shan)(shan)(shan)供養)自然成湖(hu)(hu),故(gu)名(ming)(ming)靈(ling)(ling)湖(hu)(hu)。源于(yu)梁武帝天(tian)監元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(公元(yuan)502年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))天(tian)竺(印度(du))高(gao)僧智藥(yao)三(san)藏(zang)法(fa)(fa)師(shi);帶兩(liang)棵菩(pu)提圣樹,浮海來華(hua),因(yin)臺(tai)風受(shou)(shou)阻(zu),于(yu)廣(guang)海靈(ling)(ling)湖(hu)(hu)登陸,建(jian)(jian)(jian)阿蘭(lan)若(ruo)居之(zhi)。并(bing)(bing)在(zai)伽(jia)藍(lan)內植下(xia)中(zhong)國第(di)一(yi)棵菩(pu)提樹。智藥(yao)三(san)藏(zang)后(hou)(hou)前(qian)往廣(guang)州光孝寺(si)(si)于(yu)戒壇上植下(xia)第(di)二棵菩(pu)提樹,并(bing)(bing)立碑預言(yan)“170年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)后(hou)(hou)將(jiang)(jiang)有一(yi)肉(rou)身菩(pu)提于(yu)這(zhe)棵樹下(xia),開(kai)演無(wu)(wu)(wu)上微(wei)妙法(fa)(fa),傳佛心(xin)印,度(du)無(wu)(wu)(wu)量眾生(sheng)”,之(zhi)后(hou)(hou)前(qian)往韶關(guan)曲(qu)江曹溪(xi)寶林(lin)山(shan)(shan)(shan)開(kai)山(shan)(shan)(shan)創建(jian)(jian)(jian)南(nan)華(hua)寺(si)(si),并(bing)(bing)再次立碑預言(yan)“176年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)后(hou)(hou)將(jiang)(jiang)有一(yi)肉(rou)身菩(pu)薩來此(ci):演無(wu)(wu)(wu)上法(fa)(fa)寶得道者如林(lin)”。唐龍塑元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)辛酉禪宗六祖(zu)惠能祖(zu)師(shi)自湖(hu)(hu)北黃梅五祖(zu)處得法(fa)(fa)南(nan)歸。丙子二月初(chu)八(ba)在(zai)廣(guang)州光孝寺(si)(si)智藥(yao)三(san)藏(zang)法(fa)(fa)師(shi)手植菩(pu)提樹下(xia)剃(ti)度(du)受(shou)(shou)戒。后(hou)(hou)前(qian)往韶關(guan)曹溪(xi)寶林(lin)山(shan)(shan)(shan)中(zhong)興南(nan)華(hua)寺(si)(si)并(bing)(bing)弘揚頓悟法(fa)(fa)門。因(yin)智藥(yao)三(san)藏(zang)法(fa)(fa)師(shi)兩(liang)次有關(guan)六祖(zu)的(de)預言(yan)得到印證,遂(sui)成千(qian)古頌,故(gu)名(ming)(ming)靈(ling)(ling)湖(hu)(hu)寺(si)(si)。留下(xia)勝因(yin),香火益(yi)盛,寺(si)(si)宇(yu)塑像,堂(tang)皇古雅(ya),蓮(lian)燈長明(ming),向有吉祥福地之(zhi)稱(cheng)。廣(guang)海城東蓮(lian)花洋上大象馱小(xiao)象,代(dai)代(dai)出和尚(shang),早弛圣域之(zhi)譽,歷史(shi)悠(you)久,寺(si)(si)之(zhi)名(ming)(ming)號益(yi)顯。年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)久代(dai)湮(yin),殿閣災余,金(jin)色消沉(chen)。靈(ling)(ling)湖(hu)(hu)寺(si)(si)初(chu)毀于(yu)宋末,元(yuan)至正(zheng)8年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1348年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))重建(jian)(jian)(jian),明(ming)洪武30年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1397年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))重修,清咸(xian)豐6年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1856年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))至同治(zhi)二年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1863年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))土客紛爭,寺(si)(si)宇(yu)被焚,僅焦土。光緒10年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1884年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))廣(guang)海奇石彭鳳桐(tong)志(zhi)慕云林(lin)主持重建(jian)(jian)(jian)。峻工后(hou)(hou)善行(xing)圓滿,整座(zuo)嶺南(nan)建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑,布局(ju)宏偉壯觀,即易名(ming)(ming)“靈(ling)(ling)湖(hu)(hu)古寺(si)(si)”。1937年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)寺(si)(si)又遭(zao)洗劫。1947年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)住持繼(ji)慈法(fa)(fa)師(shi)得0檀越。奇石建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑商(shang)余沛捐香資略加維(wei)修。后(hou)(hou)由于(yu)發生(sheng)震動,歷史(shi)沿(yan)革,世法(fa)(fa)無(wu)(wu)(wu)常,年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)代(dai)變遷名(ming)(ming)寺(si)(si)淪為療(liao)養院及駐軍牧馬之(zhi)場地。
際茲國運興隆,宗教政(zheng)策(ce)落實,靈湖(hu)寺(si)教產歸還佛教界管理(li)。2006年7月(yue)11日(ri)原廣(guang)(guang)(guang)州大(da)佛寺(si)常住(zhu)僧(seng)人(ren)釋仁偉(wei)為(wei)還乙酉仲廈夢中愿(yuan),經臺山(shan)(shan)市(shi)博物館領(ling)導介紹來寺(si),主持(chi)(chi)恢復(fu),重興祖師道場(chang)。古寺(si)滿目瘡痍(yi),師嘆:“禪林凋零,梵剎之凄清”。恒蓄興建(jian)宏愿(yuan),趁政(zheng)策(ce)之修明,善因(yin)夙愿(yuan),法(fa)(fa)緣(yuan)廣(guang)(guang)(guang)洽,心(xin)殷圣域(yu)重光。承(cheng)蒙(meng)廣(guang)(guang)(guang)東省江門市(shi)政(zheng)協(xie)、臺山(shan)(shan)市(shi)政(zheng)府、廣(guang)(guang)(guang)海(hai)(hai)鎮各級(ji)領(ling)導支持(chi)(chi)及海(hai)(hai)內(nei)外(wai)眾善信(xin)(xin)之扶持(chi)(chi),智(zhi)藥三藏祖師常寂光中加持(chi)(chi)。涓吉丙戌年觀音出家吉日(ri)動土(tu)修復(fu)靈湖(hu)寺(si)兜率內(nei)院,同(tong)年季(ji)冬26日(ri)竣工,歷時數(shu)月(yue),工程(cheng)費(fei)用(yong)龐大(da)。緣(yuan)荷嶺南善信(xin)(xin)居士動員廣(guang)(guang)(guang)州、深圳、中山(shan)(shan)、佛山(shan)(shan)、江門等地信(xin)(xin)眾發菩提(ti)心(xin)、植大(da)福(fu)田捐資建(jian)寺(si),數(shu)額尤巨,并得(de)江門大(da)檀越(yue)居士助籌香資迎請玉佛及裝飾殿(dian)堂用(yong)品。靈湖(hu)有緣(yuan)善信(xin)(xin)聯合番禺(yu)大(da)石眾善信(xin)(xin)為(wei)靈湖(hu)寺(si)做大(da)須彌(mi)山(shan)(shan)。大(da)放光明。隨后東莞廣(guang)(guang)(guang)海(hai)(hai)同(tong)鄉會同(tong)仁發心(xin)捐殿(dian)外(wai)銅(tong)香爐鋪(pu)砌180平方(fang)米花崗巖石板(ban)于寺(si)前廣(guang)(guang)(guang)場(chang)。各大(da)善人(ren)崇圣同(tong)懷,慷慨豪舉(ju)協(xie)應,共修德業,事功告成(cheng),衹園再現,梵宇琳宮飾成(cheng);佛光普照(zhao),金(jin)洲寶(bao)界通明;海(hai)(hai)潮音起,磬唄(bai)響徹云宵;蓮云法(fa)(fa)雨,福(fu)澤人(ren)天無涯(ya)。為(wei)褒揚德事,贊譽善人(ren),乃備勒石。光昭(zhao)功德。