在放(fang)(fang)生(sheng)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)中(zhong)(zhong)有湖心(xin)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)一座,顧名(ming)思義,亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)建在湖心(xin),環(huan)水(shui)縈回,猶如島(dao)嶼,仿(fang)佛蓬萊。亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)為六(liu)角,磚木結構,樓閣(ge)形(xing)式,雙重飛檐,輕盈(ying)多(duo)姿,造型(xing)優美。亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)以粉墻(qiang)分(fen)間內(nei)(nei)外(wai),東(dong)西兩面(mian)各設(she)大(da)(da)門,通過九(jiu)曲石(shi)橋與(yu)兩岸連接。亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)外(wai)有檐廊,設(she)置(zhi)靠欄,觀魚翔(xiang)戲樂(le)(le),看神黿出(chu)水(shui),令人陶(tao)醉,依戀忘(wang)返。更為獨特(te)之(zhi)(zhi)處是亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)中(zhong)(zhong)有亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)相(xiang)套,同是六(liu)角,似是外(wai)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)的(de)(de)微型(xing),不同者內(nei)(nei)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)為單檐。內(nei)(nei)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)東(dong)面(mian)供奉(feng)(feng)阿彌陀佛,以示憑藉佛力(li),擺(bai)脫畜生(sheng)惡(e)道的(de)(de)輪(lun)回之(zhi)(zhi)苦,得往(wang)生(sheng)西方極樂(le)(le)世界。西面(mian)供奉(feng)(feng)蓮(lian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)大(da)(da)師(shi)(shi),大(da)(da)師(shi)(shi)是明代四(si)大(da)(da)高(gao)僧之(zhi)(zhi)一,俗姓(xing)沈,字佛慧,號蓮(lian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)。大(da)(da)師(shi)(shi)主張凈土,提倡放(fang)(fang)生(sheng),于城(cheng)內(nei)(nei)外(wai)開放(fang)(fang)生(sheng)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi),撰《戒殺(sha)放(fang)(fang)生(sheng)文》,以誡害物,故在放(fang)(fang)生(sheng)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)中(zhong)(zhong)立像(xiang)供奉(feng)(feng),作(zuo)僧人像(xiang)。而(er)且蓮(lian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)大(da)(da)師(shi)(shi)還(huan)是戒幢律(lv)寺大(da)(da)弘律(lv)法的(de)(de)第一代住持茂林(lin)律(lv)師(shi)(shi)的(de)(de)恩師(shi)(shi),供奉(feng)(feng)其像(xiang)亦寓(yu)懷祖念本之(zhi)(zhi)意。內(nei)(nei)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)下部是近年修葺(qi)寺宇時,用(yong)豐子愷(kai)的(de)(de)護生(sheng)畫補繪(hui)。若(ruo)說西花園以放(fang)(fang)生(sheng)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)為中(zhong)(zhong)心(xin),那么湖心(xin)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)則是中(zhong)(zhong)心(xin)的(de)(de)核(he)心(xin),而(er)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)中(zhong)(zhong)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)又是核(he)心(xin)的(de)(de)“核(he)心(xin)”。亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)閣(ge)倒影,映入池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)中(zhong)(zhong),可謂亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)互輝;藍天(tian)(tian)白(bai)云,飄浮(fu)湖面(mian),悠悠緲(miao)緲(miao);池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)中(zhong)(zhong)設(she)蓮(lian)花噴泉,條(tiao)條(tiao)水(shui)線從花中(zhong)(zhong)迸射(she),蓮(lian)蕾荷葉一旁(pang)襯托,這種虛實倒影的(de)(de)藝(yi)術效果,構成(cheng)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)中(zhong)(zhong)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)畫面(mian),幻化(hua)成(cheng)天(tian)(tian)與(yu)水(shui)、人與(yu)佛、世間與(yu)天(tian)(tian)國的(de)(de)微妙結合,真可謂出(chu)神入化(hua)、淋漓盡(jin)致。
湖心(xin)亭原有亭額“月照潭心(xin)”,如(ru)在此觀(guan)賞夜景,月影、亭影、樹影,使油然產生一種(zhong)超越空間(jian)的感覺,是天上之(zhi)人間(jian)乎?抑或人間(jian)之(zhi)天上?亭中原有聯語:
圣教名言:獨樂(le)何如同樂(le);
佛家宗旨(zhi):殺(sha)生不如(ru)放生。
湖心亭(ting)東南(nan)角(jiao)有一處黃石壘砌的假(jia)山,山有空洞可穿行(xing),又有石級可攀登(deng),曲徑迂回,逶迤起伏。登(deng)上(shang)山巔(dian),赫然又是(shi)一座六角(jiao)亭(ting)。前亭(ting)在水中,此亭(ting)在山上(shang),山雖不高,略(lve)可小(xiao)憩憑眺(tiao),極目(mu)望去(qu),西花園可收眼底(di);涼風襲來,樹(shu)影娑婆,使人心曠(kuang)神怡。此亭(ting)名曰“云(yun)棲(qi)(qi)亭(ting)”,其(qi)緣起亦因蓮池大師而來,大師幼(you)習儒業,中年皈依佛教,在39歲那年,即隆慶(qing)五年(1571)入杭州云(yun)棲(qi)(qi)山,教化遠近,衲子云(yun)集,遂成叢林。大師示寂(ji)后,集其(qi)著(zhu)作為《云(yun)棲(qi)(qi)法匯》。為了紀念大師的功德(de),故于放(fang)生池畔(pan)、假(jia)山之上(shang)立(li)云(yun)棲(qi)(qi)亭(ting),從內(nei)涵上(shang)把(ba)兩亭(ting)相(xiang)連,在放(fang)生的主題下融(rong)為一體。