在放(fang)生(sheng)(sheng)池(chi)(chi)中(zhong)(zhong)有湖心(xin)(xin)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)一(yi)座,顧名思(si)義,亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)建(jian)在湖心(xin)(xin),環水(shui)(shui)(shui)縈回,猶(you)如(ru)島嶼(yu),仿(fang)佛(fo)(fo)蓬萊。亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)為(wei)六角,磚木結構(gou),樓閣形式,雙重飛(fei)檐,輕盈多姿,造型(xing)優美。亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)以(yi)粉墻(qiang)分(fen)間(jian)內(nei)(nei)外,東西(xi)(xi)兩(liang)面各設大(da)門,通過九曲石橋與(yu)(yu)兩(liang)岸連接。亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)外有檐廊,設置靠欄,觀魚翔戲樂(le),看神黿出水(shui)(shui)(shui),令人陶(tao)醉,依戀忘返。更(geng)為(wei)獨特之(zhi)處是(shi)(shi)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)中(zhong)(zhong)有亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)相套,同是(shi)(shi)六角,似(si)是(shi)(shi)外亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)的(de)(de)微(wei)(wei)型(xing),不同者內(nei)(nei)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)為(wei)單(dan)檐。內(nei)(nei)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)東面供奉阿(a)彌陀佛(fo)(fo),以(yi)示憑藉(jie)佛(fo)(fo)力,擺脫畜(chu)生(sheng)(sheng)惡(e)道的(de)(de)輪(lun)回之(zhi)苦,得往生(sheng)(sheng)西(xi)(xi)方極樂(le)世界。西(xi)(xi)面供奉蓮(lian)(lian)池(chi)(chi)大(da)師,大(da)師是(shi)(shi)明代(dai)四大(da)高(gao)僧之(zhi)一(yi),俗姓沈,字(zi)佛(fo)(fo)慧,號蓮(lian)(lian)池(chi)(chi)。大(da)師主張凈土(tu),提倡放(fang)生(sheng)(sheng),于城內(nei)(nei)外開放(fang)生(sheng)(sheng)池(chi)(chi),撰《戒(jie)殺放(fang)生(sheng)(sheng)文》,以(yi)誡害物,故在放(fang)生(sheng)(sheng)池(chi)(chi)中(zhong)(zhong)立像(xiang)供奉,作(zuo)僧人像(xiang)。而且蓮(lian)(lian)池(chi)(chi)大(da)師還(huan)是(shi)(shi)戒(jie)幢律寺(si)大(da)弘(hong)律法的(de)(de)第一(yi)代(dai)住持茂林律師的(de)(de)恩師,供奉其像(xiang)亦寓懷祖念本之(zhi)意。內(nei)(nei)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)下部是(shi)(shi)近(jin)年修(xiu)葺寺(si)宇時,用豐子愷的(de)(de)護(hu)生(sheng)(sheng)畫補繪。若說(shuo)西(xi)(xi)花園以(yi)放(fang)生(sheng)(sheng)池(chi)(chi)為(wei)中(zhong)(zhong)心(xin)(xin),那么(me)湖心(xin)(xin)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)則是(shi)(shi)中(zhong)(zhong)心(xin)(xin)的(de)(de)核(he)心(xin)(xin),而亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)中(zhong)(zhong)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)又是(shi)(shi)核(he)心(xin)(xin)的(de)(de)“核(he)心(xin)(xin)”。亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)閣倒(dao)(dao)影,映入池(chi)(chi)中(zhong)(zhong),可(ke)謂(wei)(wei)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)池(chi)(chi)互輝;藍天白云,飄浮(fu)湖面,悠悠緲緲;池(chi)(chi)中(zhong)(zhong)設蓮(lian)(lian)花噴泉,條條水(shui)(shui)(shui)線(xian)從(cong)花中(zhong)(zhong)迸射,蓮(lian)(lian)蕾(lei)荷(he)葉一(yi)旁襯托(tuo),這種虛實(shi)倒(dao)(dao)影的(de)(de)藝術效果,構(gou)成亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)中(zhong)(zhong)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)畫面,幻化(hua)成天與(yu)(yu)水(shui)(shui)(shui)、人與(yu)(yu)佛(fo)(fo)、世間(jian)與(yu)(yu)天國的(de)(de)微(wei)(wei)妙結合,真可(ke)謂(wei)(wei)出神入化(hua)、淋漓盡(jin)致。
湖心亭(ting)原有(you)亭(ting)額“月(yue)照潭心”,如在此(ci)觀(guan)賞夜景,月(yue)影(ying)、亭(ting)影(ying)、樹影(ying),使油然產生一(yi)種超越(yue)空(kong)間(jian)(jian)的感覺,是天(tian)(tian)上之人間(jian)(jian)乎?抑或人間(jian)(jian)之天(tian)(tian)上?亭(ting)中(zhong)原有(you)聯(lian)語:
圣教名(ming)言(yan):獨樂(le)何如同樂(le);
佛家宗旨:殺生不如放(fang)生。
湖心(xin)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)東南角有一處黃(huang)石壘砌的假山(shan),山(shan)有空洞可(ke)穿行,又有石級可(ke)攀登(deng),曲徑迂(yu)回,逶迤起伏。登(deng)上(shang)山(shan)巔,赫(he)然又是(shi)一座六角亭(ting)(ting)(ting)。前亭(ting)(ting)(ting)在水中,此(ci)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)在山(shan)上(shang),山(shan)雖不高,略(lve)可(ke)小憩憑(ping)眺,極目望(wang)去(qu),西花園可(ke)收(shou)眼底;涼風襲(xi)來(lai),樹影娑婆,使人心(xin)曠神怡。此(ci)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)名曰“云棲(qi)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)”,其緣起亦(yi)因蓮池(chi)大師(shi)(shi)而來(lai),大師(shi)(shi)幼(you)習儒業(ye),中年(nian)皈依佛(fo)教(jiao),在39歲那年(nian),即隆慶五年(nian)(1571)入杭州云棲(qi)山(shan),教(jiao)化遠近,衲子云集(ji),遂成叢林。大師(shi)(shi)示寂(ji)后,集(ji)其著作為(wei)《云棲(qi)法匯》。為(wei)了紀(ji)念大師(shi)(shi)的功(gong)德,故(gu)于放生池(chi)畔、假山(shan)之(zhi)上(shang)立云棲(qi)亭(ting)(ting)(ting),從內涵上(shang)把兩亭(ting)(ting)(ting)相連,在放生的主題下(xia)融為(wei)一體。