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Lions Among Men

by The Firstborn

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1.
Sitting atop a lotus pedestal, The body is the colour of gold. A splendour which is peerless, Shining around a hundred worlds. Wide as the seas, eyes pure and clear, Shining in brilliance, by transformation. In nine lotus stages towards the farthest shore, Towards liberation. As the lotus does not touch the water, As sun and moon do not stop in space. Amid all worldly paths, I will be freed. Before the Lions Among Men, With body, mouth, and mind entirely pure... Givers of Sight, Givers of Life. Liberated, Liberators. I, here and now, No longer seek the body of a god. The afflictions that are the bondages Are just like the silkworm’s cocoon. Why would anyone with Wisdom Be content in this place? This body is a collection of sorrows All of which are impure. Before the All-Seeing Ones, The Light, the Help, the Refuge, the Resting-Place. Givers of Shelter, Givers of Knowledge. Enlightened, Enlighteners. Reverence to those upon the Path of Perfection. Reverence to those who have conquered Fear.
2.
Through stillness joined to insight true, All passions slowly annihilated. With vigour grown strong, And a mind placed in highest samadhi. Whatever pours forth from the mind, Possesses the nature of the owner. Are waves different from the water? Their nature like that of space is one and the same. The same Without as Within... There, how should another arise? Neither in Nirvana, neither in Samsara. Who speaks, who listens, and what is confided? Like the dust in a dust-filled tunnel, That which arises in the heart goes to rest in the heart. Even as water entering water Has an identical savour, So faults and virtues are accounted the same As there's no opposition between them. The same Without as Within... There, how should another arise? As is Nirvana, so is Samsara. When you strive to gain quiescence by stopping motion, The quiescence thus gained is ever in motion. As long as you tarry in the dualism, How can you realize oneness?
3.
Wantless 06:02
Gone greed, gone guile, gone thirst, gone grudge, And winnowed all delusions and faults, Leaving the vanities of veiled view, Right method won, the way obtained. I know! No other is my guide! With downcast eyes, searching within, (Wantless in all the world become.) With guarded senses, warded thoughts, (Wantless in all the world become.) With a mind that festers not, nor burns... (Wantless in all the world become.) Like a lion fearful not of sounds, (Wantless in all the world become.) Like wind not caught within a net, (Wantless in all the world become.) Like the lotus not by water soiled... (Wantless in all the world become.) Wantless in all the world I become. Void of all stains. Void of all pain. Earnest, resolved for craving's end, Listener, alert, not hesitant, Striver, assured, with Dharma summed, Wantless in all the world become. Astir to win the yondmost goal, (Wantless in all the world become.) Not lax in thought, nor sloth in ways, (Wantless in all the world become.) Strong in the onset, steadfast, firm. (Wantless in all the world become.) And rid of passion, error, hate, (Wantless in all the world become.) The fetters having snapped in twain, (Wantless in all the world become.) Fearless whenas life ebbs away... (Wantless in all the world become.) Wantless in all the world I have become.
4.
Vajra Eyes 07:22
Diamond Vajra, Lightning Vajra Exalted fire of insight-wisdom Born from the syllable Ah, Bearing the Grand Illusion. Unoriginated… beginningless. Lions-roar of egolessness, Without the sense of “I” and “mine”. Reverence to you, Illusion’s net. Homage to you, the Buddha’s dancer. With indestructible sword, victorious in battle With a hundred eyes, eyes of Vajra, Glorious, immutable in nature Glorious, in essence Vajra. Diamond Vajra, Lightning Vajra Eyes of Vajra, in essence Vajra. Deity beyond Gods, Crossed over the wilderness of existence. Reverence to you, the teacher of the world. Homage to you, the guide of the world. Having fiercest eyes, eyes blazing like Vajra. A lord with his weapon, whose source is Vajra. Diamond Vajra, Lightning Vajra Shaking hundreds of world spheres. Stand silent in the heart, Unlimited in loving kindness. Diamond Vajra, Lightning Vajra Eyes of Vajra, in essence Vajra.
5.
Like a lance that flashes free in the open sky Cutting through the root of mortal grief Such is the sudden victory over duality Flashing freely in unconditioned state. I’ve lain dead, utterly alone… On the sands of ancient deserts. I have held in my heart so many tears of stone. I have dreamt of drinking dewdrops That sparkle like galaxies. I have longed to see you, But did not know where to look. Suddenly I gazed upon myself And saw you smiling… Like a lance that flashes bright in the open sky, A decisive understanding of true Reality. You are Me, and I am You. You are here to bring me Joy, I am here to bring you Peace. The rhythm of my heart is the Birth and Death of all that is. I have longed to see you, But did not know where to look. Suddenly I gazed upon myself And saw you smiling at me… Tonight all weapons fall and turn to dust, Rust devours iron, as iron breeds rust.
6.
Thus I have heard, The Way is not practised in vain. What is spoken is Dharma, What is practised is the Way. Thus I have seen, Beyond eye-consciousness: There is not one thing, So where can dust alight? Thus subdue the false heart. Thus open the Boundless Light. Seek not in form, Seek not in sound. Subdue the false heart. Embrace the no-self. Nothing lost, nothing attained. Nothing named, nothing spoken. Seek not in form, Seek not in sound. Subdue the false heart. Embrace the no-self. Like dew-drops, dreams, illusions, See all marks as no marks. No mark of self. No mark of others. No mark of living beings, No mark of a life. Those who look cannot see it, Those who listen cannot hear... For there is nothing. Nothing lost, nothing attained. Nothing named, nothing spoken.
7.

about

A sonic voyage of abandonment and detachment from the material world. Dense, introspective, ritualistic and hypnotic at times, «Lions Among Men» is challenging music for the thoughtful, attentive listener.

credits

released March 5, 2012

Bruno Fernandes – Vocals, Guitar
Nuno Gervásio – Guitar, Sampling
Hélder Malícia – Bass Guitar
Rolando Barros – Drums and Percussion
Filipe Lima - Guitar
Luís Simões – Sitar, Synths, Additional Percussion and Sampling

and

Hugo Santos – Additional Vocals

All music by Bruno Fernandes, Nuno Gervásio and The Firstborn, with the precious collaboration of Miguel Santos and Paulo Vieira.
All lyrics by Bruno Fernandes. Vocal production by Paulo Vieira and Bruno Fernandes. Additional vocals on songs 2, 3, 4 and 6 by Hugo Santos, appearing courtesy of Process of Guilt. Luís Simões appears courtesy of Blasted Mechanism and Saturnia.
All guitars recorded by Nuno Gervásio and edited by Nuno Gervásio & André Tavares.
Guitar solo on song 5 recorded by Filipe Lima.
Synths and Samplers arranged by Nuno Gervásio & Luis Simões.
“Lions Among Men” was recorded and mixed at MDL Studios in Lisboa, Portugal, by André Tavares and The Firstborn, from February to June 2011. Mastered by Collin Jordan at The Boiler Room, in Chicago, USA. Layout by Phobos Anomaly Design. Photography by Pedro Almeida.

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The Firstborn Lisboa, Portugal

Like lions among men, THE FIRSTBORN come forth as a true force of nature within a movement where mindless, continuous repetition of the same old formulas is often mistaken for talent. The new album «Lions Among Men» is now out and it represents the ultimate stride forward in the path treaded since the band’s inception in the mid-nineties, following 2008’s critically acclaimed «The Noble Search». ... more

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