在(zai)放(fang)生(sheng)池(chi)(chi)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)有湖心(xin)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)一座,顧名思義,亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)建在(zai)湖心(xin),環水縈回(hui),猶如島嶼,仿佛(fo)(fo)蓬(peng)萊。亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)為六(liu)角,磚木結構,樓閣(ge)形式(shi),雙重飛(fei)檐(yan),輕盈多姿(zi),造型優美。亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)以(yi)(yi)粉(fen)墻分間內(nei)外(wai),東西(xi)兩(liang)(liang)面(mian)(mian)各設大(da)(da)(da)門,通過九曲石橋與(yu)(yu)兩(liang)(liang)岸連接(jie)。亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)外(wai)有檐(yan)廊,設置靠(kao)欄,觀魚翔(xiang)戲樂,看神黿出水,令人陶醉,依戀忘(wang)返。更為獨特之(zhi)處是(shi)(shi)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)有亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)相套,同(tong)是(shi)(shi)六(liu)角,似(si)是(shi)(shi)外(wai)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)的(de)微型,不同(tong)者內(nei)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)為單(dan)檐(yan)。內(nei)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)東面(mian)(mian)供(gong)(gong)奉阿彌陀佛(fo)(fo),以(yi)(yi)示憑藉佛(fo)(fo)力,擺脫畜生(sheng)惡道的(de)輪(lun)回(hui)之(zhi)苦,得往生(sheng)西(xi)方極(ji)樂世界。西(xi)面(mian)(mian)供(gong)(gong)奉蓮(lian)(lian)池(chi)(chi)大(da)(da)(da)師(shi),大(da)(da)(da)師(shi)是(shi)(shi)明代(dai)四大(da)(da)(da)高僧(seng)之(zhi)一,俗姓(xing)沈,字佛(fo)(fo)慧,號蓮(lian)(lian)池(chi)(chi)。大(da)(da)(da)師(shi)主張凈土,提倡放(fang)生(sheng),于(yu)城內(nei)外(wai)開放(fang)生(sheng)池(chi)(chi),撰《戒殺放(fang)生(sheng)文》,以(yi)(yi)誡(jie)害物,故在(zai)放(fang)生(sheng)池(chi)(chi)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)立像(xiang)供(gong)(gong)奉,作僧(seng)人像(xiang)。而且蓮(lian)(lian)池(chi)(chi)大(da)(da)(da)師(shi)還(huan)是(shi)(shi)戒幢律寺(si)大(da)(da)(da)弘律法的(de)第一代(dai)住(zhu)持茂林律師(shi)的(de)恩師(shi),供(gong)(gong)奉其像(xiang)亦(yi)寓懷祖念(nian)本(ben)之(zhi)意。內(nei)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)下部是(shi)(shi)近年(nian)修葺寺(si)宇(yu)時,用(yong)豐(feng)子愷的(de)護生(sheng)畫(hua)補繪。若說西(xi)花園以(yi)(yi)放(fang)生(sheng)池(chi)(chi)為中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)心(xin),那(nei)么湖心(xin)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)則是(shi)(shi)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)心(xin)的(de)核心(xin),而亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)又是(shi)(shi)核心(xin)的(de)“核心(xin)”。亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)閣(ge)倒影,映入池(chi)(chi)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),可謂亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)池(chi)(chi)互輝(hui);藍天白云,飄浮湖面(mian)(mian),悠悠緲緲;池(chi)(chi)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)設蓮(lian)(lian)花噴泉,條條水線從花中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)迸(beng)射,蓮(lian)(lian)蕾荷葉(xie)一旁襯托,這種虛實倒影的(de)藝術效果(guo),構成(cheng)(cheng)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)畫(hua)面(mian)(mian),幻化成(cheng)(cheng)天與(yu)(yu)水、人與(yu)(yu)佛(fo)(fo)、世間與(yu)(yu)天國的(de)微妙結合,真可謂出神入化、淋(lin)漓盡致。
湖心亭原有(you)亭額“月照潭心”,如在此(ci)觀賞夜景,月影、亭影、樹(shu)影,使油(you)然產生(sheng)一種超越空間(jian)的(de)感覺,是天上之人(ren)間(jian)乎?抑或人(ren)間(jian)之天上?亭中原有(you)聯語:
圣(sheng)教名言(yan):獨樂(le)何如同樂(le);
佛家宗旨:殺生不(bu)如放生。
湖(hu)心(xin)亭(ting)東南角(jiao)有(you)一(yi)處黃石壘砌的(de)(de)假(jia)山(shan),山(shan)有(you)空洞可穿行,又有(you)石級可攀(pan)登,曲徑迂回,逶(wei)迤(yi)起伏。登上山(shan)巔,赫(he)然(ran)又是一(yi)座(zuo)六角(jiao)亭(ting)。前亭(ting)在(zai)水中(zhong),此(ci)亭(ting)在(zai)山(shan)上,山(shan)雖不高,略可小憩(qi)憑眺,極目望去(qu),西(xi)花園可收眼底;涼(liang)風襲來,樹影娑婆,使人(ren)心(xin)曠(kuang)神怡。此(ci)亭(ting)名曰“云(yun)(yun)棲(qi)(qi)亭(ting)”,其(qi)緣起亦因蓮池大(da)師而來,大(da)師幼習儒(ru)業,中(zhong)年皈依(yi)佛教,在(zai)39歲那年,即(ji)隆(long)慶五年(1571)入杭州云(yun)(yun)棲(qi)(qi)山(shan),教化(hua)遠(yuan)近,衲子云(yun)(yun)集,遂成叢林。大(da)師示寂后,集其(qi)著作為(wei)《云(yun)(yun)棲(qi)(qi)法匯(hui)》。為(wei)了(le)紀念大(da)師的(de)(de)功(gong)德,故于放生池畔、假(jia)山(shan)之上立云(yun)(yun)棲(qi)(qi)亭(ting),從內涵上把兩(liang)亭(ting)相連,在(zai)放生的(de)(de)主題下融為(wei)一(yi)體。