在放生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)池中有(you)(you)湖(hu)(hu)心(xin)亭(ting)(ting)一座,顧名思義(yi),亭(ting)(ting)建(jian)在湖(hu)(hu)心(xin),環水(shui)(shui)縈(ying)回,猶如島嶼,仿佛蓬萊。亭(ting)(ting)為六角(jiao),磚木結構(gou),樓閣形式(shi),雙重(zhong)飛檐,輕盈多姿,造型優美。亭(ting)(ting)以(yi)粉墻(qiang)分間內(nei)(nei)外(wai),東(dong)西兩面(mian)各設(she)大(da)門,通(tong)過九(jiu)曲石橋(qiao)與(yu)兩岸連(lian)接。亭(ting)(ting)外(wai)有(you)(you)檐廊(lang),設(she)置靠欄,觀魚翔戲樂(le)(le),看(kan)神(shen)黿出水(shui)(shui),令人陶醉,依戀忘返。更為獨特之(zhi)處(chu)是(shi)亭(ting)(ting)中有(you)(you)亭(ting)(ting)相套,同(tong)(tong)是(shi)六角(jiao),似是(shi)外(wai)亭(ting)(ting)的(de)(de)微(wei)型,不同(tong)(tong)者內(nei)(nei)亭(ting)(ting)為單檐。內(nei)(nei)亭(ting)(ting)東(dong)面(mian)供奉(feng)阿彌陀佛,以(yi)示(shi)憑藉佛力,擺脫畜生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)惡道的(de)(de)輪(lun)回之(zhi)苦,得往生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)西方極樂(le)(le)世界(jie)。西面(mian)供奉(feng)蓮(lian)池大(da)師(shi)(shi),大(da)師(shi)(shi)是(shi)明代四大(da)高僧之(zhi)一,俗姓沈,字佛慧,號蓮(lian)池。大(da)師(shi)(shi)主張凈土,提(ti)倡(chang)放生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng),于城內(nei)(nei)外(wai)開(kai)放生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)池,撰《戒(jie)殺放生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)文》,以(yi)誡害物(wu),故在放生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)池中立像(xiang)供奉(feng),作僧人像(xiang)。而(er)且(qie)蓮(lian)池大(da)師(shi)(shi)還是(shi)戒(jie)幢(chuang)律(lv)寺(si)(si)大(da)弘(hong)律(lv)法的(de)(de)第一代住持茂(mao)林律(lv)師(shi)(shi)的(de)(de)恩師(shi)(shi),供奉(feng)其像(xiang)亦(yi)寓懷祖念本之(zhi)意。內(nei)(nei)亭(ting)(ting)下(xia)部是(shi)近年修葺寺(si)(si)宇時,用豐子愷的(de)(de)護生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)畫(hua)補繪。若說西花(hua)園以(yi)放生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)池為中心(xin),那么湖(hu)(hu)心(xin)亭(ting)(ting)則是(shi)中心(xin)的(de)(de)核心(xin),而(er)亭(ting)(ting)中亭(ting)(ting)又是(shi)核心(xin)的(de)(de)“核心(xin)”。亭(ting)(ting)閣倒(dao)(dao)影,映入(ru)池中,可(ke)謂亭(ting)(ting)池互輝;藍天白云,飄浮(fu)湖(hu)(hu)面(mian),悠悠緲緲;池中設(she)蓮(lian)花(hua)噴泉,條(tiao)條(tiao)水(shui)(shui)線從花(hua)中迸射,蓮(lian)蕾荷葉(xie)一旁(pang)襯托,這種虛實倒(dao)(dao)影的(de)(de)藝術效果,構(gou)成亭(ting)(ting)中亭(ting)(ting)畫(hua)面(mian),幻化(hua)成天與(yu)水(shui)(shui)、人與(yu)佛、世間與(yu)天國的(de)(de)微(wei)妙結合,真可(ke)謂出神(shen)入(ru)化(hua)、淋(lin)漓(li)盡致(zhi)。
湖心(xin)亭(ting)原有(you)亭(ting)額(e)“月照潭心(xin)”,如(ru)在此觀賞夜景(jing),月影(ying)、亭(ting)影(ying)、樹影(ying),使油然產生一種(zhong)超越空間(jian)的感覺,是天上之人間(jian)乎(hu)?抑或(huo)人間(jian)之天上?亭(ting)中原有(you)聯(lian)語:
圣教(jiao)名言:獨樂(le)何(he)如(ru)同樂(le);
佛(fo)家(jia)宗(zong)旨(zhi):殺生不(bu)如放生。
湖(hu)心亭(ting)(ting)東南(nan)角有一(yi)(yi)處黃石(shi)壘砌的(de)假(jia)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan),山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)有空洞可(ke)(ke)(ke)穿(chuan)行,又有石(shi)級可(ke)(ke)(ke)攀(pan)登,曲徑迂回,逶迤起伏。登上山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)巔,赫然又是一(yi)(yi)座六角亭(ting)(ting)。前亭(ting)(ting)在水中(zhong),此(ci)亭(ting)(ting)在山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)上,山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)雖(sui)不高,略可(ke)(ke)(ke)小憩憑(ping)眺,極目望去,西花園可(ke)(ke)(ke)收(shou)眼底(di);涼風襲來(lai),樹影娑(suo)婆,使人心曠神(shen)怡。此(ci)亭(ting)(ting)名曰“云(yun)棲亭(ting)(ting)”,其緣起亦因蓮池(chi)(chi)大師(shi)而來(lai),大師(shi)幼習儒業,中(zhong)年(nian)皈依(yi)佛教,在39歲那年(nian),即隆(long)慶五(wu)年(nian)(1571)入杭州云(yun)棲山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan),教化遠近(jin),衲(na)子云(yun)集,遂成叢林。大師(shi)示寂后(hou),集其著作為《云(yun)棲法匯》。為了紀念大師(shi)的(de)功德(de),故于放(fang)生(sheng)池(chi)(chi)畔、假(jia)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)之(zhi)上立云(yun)棲亭(ting)(ting),從(cong)內涵上把兩亭(ting)(ting)相連(lian),在放(fang)生(sheng)的(de)主(zhu)題下融為一(yi)(yi)體(ti)。