在(zai)放(fang)(fang)生(sheng)池(chi)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)有(you)湖(hu)(hu)心(xin)(xin)亭(ting)(ting)一座,顧名思義(yi),亭(ting)(ting)建在(zai)湖(hu)(hu)心(xin)(xin),環水縈回,猶如島嶼,仿佛(fo)蓬萊。亭(ting)(ting)為(wei)(wei)六角(jiao),磚木結構,樓(lou)閣(ge)(ge)形式(shi),雙重飛檐,輕盈多姿(zi),造(zao)型(xing)優美。亭(ting)(ting)以(yi)粉墻分(fen)間內外(wai),東西(xi)(xi)兩面(mian)各(ge)設大(da)門,通過九(jiu)曲石橋與兩岸連接。亭(ting)(ting)外(wai)有(you)檐廊,設置靠欄,觀(guan)魚翔戲樂,看(kan)神(shen)黿出水,令人陶醉,依戀(lian)忘返(fan)。更(geng)為(wei)(wei)獨特之(zhi)處是(shi)亭(ting)(ting)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)有(you)亭(ting)(ting)相套(tao),同(tong)(tong)是(shi)六角(jiao),似(si)是(shi)外(wai)亭(ting)(ting)的微型(xing),不同(tong)(tong)者(zhe)內亭(ting)(ting)為(wei)(wei)單檐。內亭(ting)(ting)東面(mian)供(gong)奉(feng)(feng)(feng)阿彌陀佛(fo),以(yi)示憑藉佛(fo)力,擺脫畜生(sheng)惡道(dao)的輪回之(zhi)苦,得往生(sheng)西(xi)(xi)方極樂世界。西(xi)(xi)面(mian)供(gong)奉(feng)(feng)(feng)蓮(lian)池(chi)大(da)師(shi),大(da)師(shi)是(shi)明代四大(da)高僧之(zhi)一,俗姓沈(shen),字佛(fo)慧,號(hao)蓮(lian)池(chi)。大(da)師(shi)主(zhu)張凈土,提倡放(fang)(fang)生(sheng),于(yu)城內外(wai)開放(fang)(fang)生(sheng)池(chi),撰《戒殺(sha)放(fang)(fang)生(sheng)文(wen)》,以(yi)誡(jie)害(hai)物,故在(zai)放(fang)(fang)生(sheng)池(chi)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)立像(xiang)供(gong)奉(feng)(feng)(feng),作(zuo)僧人像(xiang)。而(er)且蓮(lian)池(chi)大(da)師(shi)還是(shi)戒幢(chuang)律(lv)寺大(da)弘律(lv)法的第一代住持茂(mao)林律(lv)師(shi)的恩師(shi),供(gong)奉(feng)(feng)(feng)其(qi)像(xiang)亦(yi)寓懷祖念本(ben)之(zhi)意。內亭(ting)(ting)下(xia)部(bu)是(shi)近(jin)年修葺寺宇時,用豐子愷的護生(sheng)畫(hua)補繪。若說西(xi)(xi)花(hua)園以(yi)放(fang)(fang)生(sheng)池(chi)為(wei)(wei)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)心(xin)(xin),那么湖(hu)(hu)心(xin)(xin)亭(ting)(ting)則是(shi)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)心(xin)(xin)的核心(xin)(xin),而(er)亭(ting)(ting)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)亭(ting)(ting)又是(shi)核心(xin)(xin)的“核心(xin)(xin)”。亭(ting)(ting)閣(ge)(ge)倒影,映入池(chi)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),可(ke)謂(wei)亭(ting)(ting)池(chi)互輝;藍天白云,飄浮湖(hu)(hu)面(mian),悠(you)悠(you)緲緲;池(chi)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)設蓮(lian)花(hua)噴泉,條條水線從(cong)花(hua)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)迸射,蓮(lian)蕾荷(he)葉(xie)一旁襯(chen)托,這(zhe)種虛實倒影的藝術效果,構成(cheng)(cheng)亭(ting)(ting)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)亭(ting)(ting)畫(hua)面(mian),幻化成(cheng)(cheng)天與水、人與佛(fo)、世間與天國的微妙結合,真可(ke)謂(wei)出神(shen)入化、淋(lin)漓盡致。
湖心亭原有(you)亭額“月照潭(tan)心”,如在此觀(guan)賞夜(ye)景,月影、亭影、樹影,使油(you)然產生一種超越空間(jian)的感(gan)覺,是天上(shang)(shang)之(zhi)人(ren)(ren)間(jian)乎?抑或人(ren)(ren)間(jian)之(zhi)天上(shang)(shang)?亭中原有(you)聯語:
圣教名(ming)言:獨樂何如同樂;
佛家宗旨:殺生不如放生。
湖(hu)心亭(ting)(ting)(ting)東南角有(you)一處黃石(shi)壘砌的假(jia)山(shan),山(shan)有(you)空洞可穿行,又有(you)石(shi)級可攀登(deng),曲(qu)徑迂回,逶迤起伏。登(deng)上(shang)山(shan)巔,赫然(ran)又是一座六角亭(ting)(ting)(ting)。前亭(ting)(ting)(ting)在(zai)(zai)水(shui)中,此(ci)(ci)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)在(zai)(zai)山(shan)上(shang),山(shan)雖不(bu)高,略(lve)可小憩憑眺,極目望去(qu),西花園可收眼底;涼風襲(xi)來(lai),樹影娑婆,使人(ren)心曠神怡。此(ci)(ci)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)名曰“云棲(qi)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)”,其(qi)緣起亦因蓮(lian)池(chi)大(da)師而(er)來(lai),大(da)師幼習儒業,中年(nian)皈依佛教(jiao),在(zai)(zai)39歲(sui)那年(nian),即隆慶五年(nian)(1571)入杭(hang)州(zhou)云棲(qi)山(shan),教(jiao)化遠(yuan)近(jin),衲子云集(ji),遂成(cheng)叢林。大(da)師示寂后,集(ji)其(qi)著作為(wei)《云棲(qi)法匯》。為(wei)了紀念大(da)師的功德,故(gu)于放(fang)(fang)生池(chi)畔、假(jia)山(shan)之上(shang)立(li)云棲(qi)亭(ting)(ting)(ting),從內涵上(shang)把兩亭(ting)(ting)(ting)相連,在(zai)(zai)放(fang)(fang)生的主題下融為(wei)一體。