在(zai)(zai)放(fang)(fang)(fang)(fang)生池(chi)(chi)(chi)中(zhong)(zhong)有湖心亭(ting)(ting)一(yi)(yi)座,顧名思義,亭(ting)(ting)建在(zai)(zai)湖心,環(huan)水縈回,猶如島嶼,仿佛蓬萊。亭(ting)(ting)為(wei)六(liu)角(jiao),磚木結(jie)構,樓閣形式,雙重飛檐,輕盈(ying)多姿,造型優美。亭(ting)(ting)以(yi)(yi)粉墻分間(jian)內(nei)外(wai)(wai),東西兩面(mian)各設大(da)門,通過(guo)九曲石橋(qiao)與(yu)兩岸連接(jie)。亭(ting)(ting)外(wai)(wai)有檐廊,設置靠欄(lan),觀魚翔戲(xi)樂,看(kan)神黿出(chu)水,令人(ren)陶醉,依戀忘(wang)返。更為(wei)獨特之(zhi)處(chu)是(shi)(shi)亭(ting)(ting)中(zhong)(zhong)有亭(ting)(ting)相套,同(tong)是(shi)(shi)六(liu)角(jiao),似是(shi)(shi)外(wai)(wai)亭(ting)(ting)的微型,不同(tong)者內(nei)亭(ting)(ting)為(wei)單(dan)檐。內(nei)亭(ting)(ting)東面(mian)供(gong)奉阿彌(mi)陀佛,以(yi)(yi)示憑(ping)藉佛力,擺脫畜生惡道的輪回之(zhi)苦(ku),得往(wang)生西方極樂世界(jie)。西面(mian)供(gong)奉蓮(lian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)大(da)師(shi)(shi),大(da)師(shi)(shi)是(shi)(shi)明代四大(da)高僧(seng)之(zhi)一(yi)(yi),俗姓沈,字佛慧,號蓮(lian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)。大(da)師(shi)(shi)主張凈土(tu),提倡放(fang)(fang)(fang)(fang)生,于城(cheng)內(nei)外(wai)(wai)開(kai)放(fang)(fang)(fang)(fang)生池(chi)(chi)(chi),撰《戒(jie)殺(sha)放(fang)(fang)(fang)(fang)生文》,以(yi)(yi)誡害物,故在(zai)(zai)放(fang)(fang)(fang)(fang)生池(chi)(chi)(chi)中(zhong)(zhong)立像(xiang)供(gong)奉,作僧(seng)人(ren)像(xiang)。而(er)且(qie)蓮(lian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)大(da)師(shi)(shi)還是(shi)(shi)戒(jie)幢律(lv)寺(si)大(da)弘(hong)律(lv)法的第一(yi)(yi)代住持茂(mao)林(lin)律(lv)師(shi)(shi)的恩師(shi)(shi),供(gong)奉其(qi)像(xiang)亦寓懷祖念本之(zhi)意。內(nei)亭(ting)(ting)下(xia)部是(shi)(shi)近年修(xiu)葺寺(si)宇(yu)時,用(yong)豐子愷(kai)的護生畫補繪。若說西花(hua)(hua)園以(yi)(yi)放(fang)(fang)(fang)(fang)生池(chi)(chi)(chi)為(wei)中(zhong)(zhong)心,那么(me)湖心亭(ting)(ting)則是(shi)(shi)中(zhong)(zhong)心的核心,而(er)亭(ting)(ting)中(zhong)(zhong)亭(ting)(ting)又(you)是(shi)(shi)核心的“核心”。亭(ting)(ting)閣倒影,映入池(chi)(chi)(chi)中(zhong)(zhong),可謂(wei)(wei)亭(ting)(ting)池(chi)(chi)(chi)互輝(hui);藍天(tian)白(bai)云,飄浮(fu)湖面(mian),悠(you)悠(you)緲(miao)緲(miao);池(chi)(chi)(chi)中(zhong)(zhong)設蓮(lian)花(hua)(hua)噴泉,條條水線從(cong)花(hua)(hua)中(zhong)(zhong)迸射,蓮(lian)蕾荷(he)葉一(yi)(yi)旁(pang)襯托,這種(zhong)虛(xu)實倒影的藝術效果,構成(cheng)亭(ting)(ting)中(zhong)(zhong)亭(ting)(ting)畫面(mian),幻化成(cheng)天(tian)與(yu)水、人(ren)與(yu)佛、世間(jian)與(yu)天(tian)國的微妙結(jie)合,真可謂(wei)(wei)出(chu)神入化、淋漓盡致。
湖心(xin)亭(ting)(ting)原有亭(ting)(ting)額“月照潭心(xin)”,如在此觀賞夜景(jing),月影(ying)(ying)、亭(ting)(ting)影(ying)(ying)、樹影(ying)(ying),使(shi)油然(ran)產生一(yi)種超越空間(jian)的感覺(jue),是天(tian)上之人間(jian)乎?抑或人間(jian)之天(tian)上?亭(ting)(ting)中原有聯語:
圣教(jiao)名(ming)言:獨(du)樂(le)何如同樂(le);
佛家宗旨:殺生(sheng)不如(ru)放生(sheng)。
湖(hu)心(xin)(xin)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)東南角(jiao)有(you)一(yi)處黃石(shi)(shi)壘砌(qi)的(de)假山(shan),山(shan)有(you)空洞可穿(chuan)行(xing),又有(you)石(shi)(shi)級可攀登(deng),曲徑(jing)迂回,逶迤起(qi)伏。登(deng)上(shang)山(shan)巔,赫然又是一(yi)座六角(jiao)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)。前亭(ting)(ting)(ting)在水(shui)中(zhong)(zhong),此亭(ting)(ting)(ting)在山(shan)上(shang),山(shan)雖不高,略可小(xiao)憩憑眺,極目望去(qu),西(xi)花(hua)園可收眼底;涼(liang)風襲來(lai),樹影娑婆(po),使人心(xin)(xin)曠神怡。此亭(ting)(ting)(ting)名曰“云(yun)(yun)棲(qi)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)”,其(qi)緣起(qi)亦因蓮池(chi)大(da)師而來(lai),大(da)師幼(you)習儒業,中(zhong)(zhong)年(nian)皈依佛教(jiao),在39歲那(nei)年(nian),即隆慶五年(nian)(1571)入杭州(zhou)云(yun)(yun)棲(qi)山(shan),教(jiao)化(hua)遠近,衲(na)子(zi)云(yun)(yun)集(ji),遂成(cheng)叢林。大(da)師示寂后,集(ji)其(qi)著作為(wei)《云(yun)(yun)棲(qi)法(fa)匯》。為(wei)了紀念大(da)師的(de)功(gong)德(de),故于放生(sheng)池(chi)畔、假山(shan)之上(shang)立(li)云(yun)(yun)棲(qi)亭(ting)(ting)(ting),從內涵(han)上(shang)把(ba)兩亭(ting)(ting)(ting)相連,在放生(sheng)的(de)主題下(xia)融為(wei)一(yi)體。