在(zai)放(fang)生(sheng)池(chi)中(zhong)有湖(hu)心(xin)(xin)(xin)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)一座(zuo),顧(gu)名(ming)思義,亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)建(jian)在(zai)湖(hu)心(xin)(xin)(xin),環水(shui)縈回,猶如(ru)島嶼,仿佛蓬萊。亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)為六角(jiao),磚(zhuan)木(mu)結構(gou),樓(lou)閣形式,雙重飛(fei)檐(yan),輕盈多姿,造型優美(mei)。亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)以粉(fen)墻分(fen)間內外,東西(xi)兩(liang)(liang)面各設大(da)門(men),通過九曲(qu)石橋與兩(liang)(liang)岸連接(jie)。亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)外有檐(yan)廊,設置靠(kao)欄,觀魚翔戲樂(le),看神黿出(chu)水(shui),令人陶醉(zui),依戀忘返。更為獨(du)特(te)之(zhi)處是(shi)(shi)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)中(zhong)有亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)相套,同是(shi)(shi)六角(jiao),似是(shi)(shi)外亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)的(de)微型,不同者內亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)為單檐(yan)。內亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)東面供(gong)奉阿彌陀(tuo)佛,以示憑(ping)藉佛力,擺脫畜(chu)生(sheng)惡道(dao)的(de)輪回之(zhi)苦,得往生(sheng)西(xi)方極樂(le)世(shi)界。西(xi)面供(gong)奉蓮(lian)池(chi)大(da)師(shi),大(da)師(shi)是(shi)(shi)明(ming)代(dai)四大(da)高(gao)僧(seng)之(zhi)一,俗(su)姓沈,字佛慧,號蓮(lian)池(chi)。大(da)師(shi)主張凈土,提倡放(fang)生(sheng),于城內外開放(fang)生(sheng)池(chi),撰《戒(jie)殺(sha)放(fang)生(sheng)文》,以誡(jie)害(hai)物,故在(zai)放(fang)生(sheng)池(chi)中(zhong)立(li)像(xiang)供(gong)奉,作僧(seng)人像(xiang)。而且蓮(lian)池(chi)大(da)師(shi)還是(shi)(shi)戒(jie)幢律寺大(da)弘律法的(de)第一代(dai)住持茂林律師(shi)的(de)恩師(shi),供(gong)奉其像(xiang)亦寓懷祖(zu)念本之(zhi)意(yi)。內亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)下部是(shi)(shi)近年修葺寺宇時,用豐子愷的(de)護(hu)生(sheng)畫(hua)補(bu)繪。若(ruo)說西(xi)花園以放(fang)生(sheng)池(chi)為中(zhong)心(xin)(xin)(xin),那么湖(hu)心(xin)(xin)(xin)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)則是(shi)(shi)中(zhong)心(xin)(xin)(xin)的(de)核(he)(he)心(xin)(xin)(xin),而亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)中(zhong)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)又是(shi)(shi)核(he)(he)心(xin)(xin)(xin)的(de)“核(he)(he)心(xin)(xin)(xin)”。亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)閣倒(dao)影,映入池(chi)中(zhong),可(ke)謂亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)池(chi)互輝;藍天白(bai)云,飄浮湖(hu)面,悠悠緲緲;池(chi)中(zhong)設蓮(lian)花噴(pen)泉,條(tiao)(tiao)條(tiao)(tiao)水(shui)線從(cong)花中(zhong)迸射(she),蓮(lian)蕾(lei)荷葉(xie)一旁襯托,這種虛實倒(dao)影的(de)藝術效(xiao)果,構(gou)成(cheng)(cheng)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)中(zhong)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)畫(hua)面,幻(huan)化成(cheng)(cheng)天與水(shui)、人與佛、世(shi)間與天國(guo)的(de)微妙結合,真(zhen)可(ke)謂出(chu)神入化、淋漓(li)盡(jin)致。
湖心(xin)亭(ting)原有(you)亭(ting)額(e)“月(yue)照潭心(xin)”,如(ru)在此觀賞(shang)夜景,月(yue)影、亭(ting)影、樹影,使油然產生一種超越空間的感覺,是天上之人(ren)間乎?抑或人(ren)間之天上?亭(ting)中原有(you)聯語:
圣(sheng)教名言:獨樂何如同樂;
佛家(jia)宗(zong)旨:殺生不如放生。
湖心(xin)亭(ting)東南角(jiao)有一處黃石壘砌的(de)假(jia)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(hui),逶迤起伏。登上(shang)山(shan)巔,赫然又是一座六角(jiao)亭(ting)。前亭(ting)在水中,此亭(ting)在山(shan)上(shang),山(shan)雖不高,略可(ke)(ke)小憩憑眺,極目望去(qu),西花園可(ke)(ke)收眼底;涼風(feng)襲來,樹影娑婆,使人(ren)心(xin)曠神(shen)怡。此亭(ting)名(ming)曰“云(yun)(yun)(yun)棲(qi)亭(ting)”,其(qi)緣起亦(yi)因蓮池大(da)師而來,大(da)師幼習儒業,中年皈依(yi)佛(fo)教,在39歲那年,即隆慶五年(1571)入(ru)杭州云(yun)(yun)(yun)棲(qi)山(shan),教化遠(yuan)近,衲子云(yun)(yun)(yun)集(ji),遂成叢林。大(da)師示寂后,集(ji)其(qi)著(zhu)作為(wei)(wei)(wei)《云(yun)(yun)(yun)棲(qi)法匯(hui)》。為(wei)(wei)(wei)了(le)紀(ji)念大(da)師的(de)功德,故(gu)于放生池畔、假(jia)山(shan)之上(shang)立云(yun)(yun)(yun)棲(qi)亭(ting),從內涵上(shang)把兩亭(ting)相連,在放生的(de)主(zhu)題(ti)下融(rong)為(wei)(wei)(wei)一體。