在(zai)放(fang)(fang)生(sheng)池中(zhong)有(you)湖心(xin)(xin)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)一座,顧(gu)名思義,亭(ting)(ting)(ting)建在(zai)湖心(xin)(xin),環水縈回,猶(you)如島(dao)嶼,仿佛(fo)(fo)蓬萊。亭(ting)(ting)(ting)為(wei)六角,磚木結構(gou),樓閣形式(shi),雙重飛檐(yan),輕盈多(duo)姿(zi),造型優美。亭(ting)(ting)(ting)以(yi)(yi)粉墻分間內外(wai),東西(xi)兩(liang)面(mian)各設大(da)(da)(da)門(men),通過九曲石橋與(yu)兩(liang)岸連(lian)接。亭(ting)(ting)(ting)外(wai)有(you)檐(yan)廊,設置(zhi)靠(kao)欄,觀魚翔戲樂,看神(shen)黿出水,令(ling)人(ren)陶醉(zui),依戀(lian)忘返。更為(wei)獨(du)特之(zhi)處是(shi)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)中(zhong)有(you)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)相套,同是(shi)六角,似是(shi)外(wai)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)的(de)微型,不同者(zhe)內亭(ting)(ting)(ting)為(wei)單檐(yan)。內亭(ting)(ting)(ting)東面(mian)供奉(feng)(feng)阿(a)彌陀佛(fo)(fo),以(yi)(yi)示(shi)憑藉佛(fo)(fo)力(li),擺脫畜生(sheng)惡道的(de)輪(lun)回之(zhi)苦,得(de)往(wang)生(sheng)西(xi)方極樂世界。西(xi)面(mian)供奉(feng)(feng)蓮(lian)池大(da)(da)(da)師(shi)(shi),大(da)(da)(da)師(shi)(shi)是(shi)明代四大(da)(da)(da)高(gao)僧(seng)之(zhi)一,俗(su)姓(xing)沈,字佛(fo)(fo)慧,號(hao)蓮(lian)池。大(da)(da)(da)師(shi)(shi)主張凈土,提倡放(fang)(fang)生(sheng),于城內外(wai)開放(fang)(fang)生(sheng)池,撰《戒(jie)殺放(fang)(fang)生(sheng)文》,以(yi)(yi)誡害物,故(gu)在(zai)放(fang)(fang)生(sheng)池中(zhong)立(li)像(xiang)供奉(feng)(feng),作僧(seng)人(ren)像(xiang)。而且蓮(lian)池大(da)(da)(da)師(shi)(shi)還是(shi)戒(jie)幢律(lv)(lv)寺(si)大(da)(da)(da)弘律(lv)(lv)法的(de)第一代住(zhu)持茂(mao)林律(lv)(lv)師(shi)(shi)的(de)恩師(shi)(shi),供奉(feng)(feng)其像(xiang)亦寓懷(huai)祖念本之(zhi)意。內亭(ting)(ting)(ting)下部是(shi)近年修(xiu)葺寺(si)宇時,用豐子愷的(de)護生(sheng)畫補(bu)繪(hui)。若說西(xi)花園以(yi)(yi)放(fang)(fang)生(sheng)池為(wei)中(zhong)心(xin)(xin),那(nei)么湖心(xin)(xin)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)則是(shi)中(zhong)心(xin)(xin)的(de)核心(xin)(xin),而亭(ting)(ting)(ting)中(zhong)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)又(you)是(shi)核心(xin)(xin)的(de)“核心(xin)(xin)”。亭(ting)(ting)(ting)閣倒(dao)影,映入(ru)池中(zhong),可謂亭(ting)(ting)(ting)池互輝;藍天(tian)白云,飄浮湖面(mian),悠悠緲緲;池中(zhong)設蓮(lian)花噴泉,條條水線(xian)從花中(zhong)迸射,蓮(lian)蕾(lei)荷(he)葉一旁襯托,這(zhe)種(zhong)虛實倒(dao)影的(de)藝術效果,構(gou)成亭(ting)(ting)(ting)中(zhong)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)畫面(mian),幻化成天(tian)與(yu)水、人(ren)與(yu)佛(fo)(fo)、世間與(yu)天(tian)國的(de)微妙結合,真可謂出神(shen)入(ru)化、淋漓盡致。
湖心亭(ting)(ting)原有(you)(you)亭(ting)(ting)額(e)“月照潭心”,如在此(ci)觀賞夜景,月影(ying)、亭(ting)(ting)影(ying)、樹影(ying),使油(you)然(ran)產生一種超越空間(jian)(jian)(jian)的(de)感覺,是天(tian)(tian)上之人間(jian)(jian)(jian)乎?抑或(huo)人間(jian)(jian)(jian)之天(tian)(tian)上?亭(ting)(ting)中原有(you)(you)聯語:
圣教(jiao)名言:獨(du)樂(le)何如同樂(le);
佛家宗旨:殺生不如放生。
湖(hu)心亭(ting)(ting)東(dong)南(nan)角有一處黃石壘砌的(de)(de)(de)假山(shan),山(shan)有空洞可(ke)(ke)穿行,又有石級可(ke)(ke)攀登,曲徑迂回,逶迤起伏。登上(shang)山(shan)巔(dian),赫然又是(shi)一座六角亭(ting)(ting)。前(qian)亭(ting)(ting)在(zai)水中(zhong),此(ci)亭(ting)(ting)在(zai)山(shan)上(shang),山(shan)雖不高,略可(ke)(ke)小憩憑眺,極目望去(qu),西花園(yuan)可(ke)(ke)收眼底;涼風(feng)襲來,樹影娑婆,使(shi)人(ren)心曠神怡。此(ci)亭(ting)(ting)名(ming)曰“云(yun)棲(qi)亭(ting)(ting)”,其緣(yuan)起亦因蓮(lian)池大師(shi)而來,大師(shi)幼(you)習儒業,中(zhong)年(nian)皈依(yi)佛教(jiao)(jiao),在(zai)39歲那(nei)年(nian),即(ji)隆慶(qing)五年(nian)(1571)入杭州云(yun)棲(qi)山(shan),教(jiao)(jiao)化遠近,衲(na)子云(yun)集(ji)(ji),遂(sui)成叢林。大師(shi)示寂后,集(ji)(ji)其著(zhu)作(zuo)為(wei)《云(yun)棲(qi)法匯(hui)》。為(wei)了(le)紀念大師(shi)的(de)(de)(de)功德(de),故于放生池畔(pan)、假山(shan)之上(shang)立云(yun)棲(qi)亭(ting)(ting),從內涵上(shang)把兩亭(ting)(ting)相連(lian),在(zai)放生的(de)(de)(de)主題下融為(wei)一體。