An article from "CentreCOMM", August 1990 ...

THE MELCHIZEDEK PRIESTHOOD
Its Occult Function and Relationship to The Centre
by Rev Mario Schoenmaker

God put me into the flesh for two reasons and I presume that this was with my co-operation. The first task was to revive the priesthood in accordance to the Order of Melchizedek, and the second one was to introduce into the southern hemisphere a school which teaches occult truth. This Centre exists primarily for these two reasons and is purposely situated in the middle of a new Western, Christian civilization. It must be emphasised that we are a Christian occult school. We do not point to Buddha, Krishna, or any other master, no matter how good, precious, and wonderful they may have been. We want to strengthen the influence and the power of Christ in a practical yet beautiful way, so that our Western civilization can partake of that power.

The Priesthood
In terms of the priesthood according to the Order of Melchizedek, I am not able to pass on this priesthood unless I am guided and led by those spiritual worlds which are sometimes in touch with me. I make no apology for this; this is the way it happens, because from the priests of such a sacred priesthood there must radiate a very strong flow of the power of Christ so that no one can mistake it. These priests, be they carpenters, salesmen, housewives or preachers, will radiate a circle of light and power into their surroundings, thus creating a renewal of the Christ influence whereby other people will become subject to that influence.

This is important; whether these other people come and join our church is not. We are not here to convert people to our way of thinking and living, but to give them something of our Christ which radiates and flows through us. Our church is not important; it is but a structure, a veil, so to speak, through which we have to work in a physical world. If we take away the structure tomorrow, the priesthood will stand firm. Those who can perceive the immeasurable grace of Christ will still exude the powers which they have received into their astral and etheric bodies. Therefore it must be understood by those of us who work within the limitations of the physical body and world that the structure which we see can be done without, tomorrow if necessary.

The purpose of our existence is to bring a renewal of the Christ influence in this world, and we can do this whilst we are cooking, cleaning the toilets, selling goods or whatever else we might be doing. It is not necessarily true that one who stands on the pulpit is giving out the Christ influence, as it is not necessarily true that the one who gives communion in beautiful robes is giving forth the Christ impulse. The truth lies within the person as to whether he or she is a priest inwardly according to the principles laid down by Melchizedek.

Therefore the task which faces us is to create a priesthood, a living structure, a living building in which Christ can dwell.

The Hidden Teachings
The second purpose is to bring occult teachings to those who are ready. Occult teachings can only ever relate to a few people, for they only apply to those who are worthy, sane, balanced and can practise the principles. For that purpose this Centre exists and I say this Centre because there can never be another Centre like it. You only have to go through history to see that occultism can only be taught by one single person at one particular place. It cannot be done by twenty masters at once or twenty bosses at once. There is only one who is chosen at a particular time as the channel. When their function is fulfilled they will leave the flesh and that is it.

Therefore, as long as I am in the flesh and as long as I am here in this place, I have to fulfil that task and function -- here and nowhere else. I may travel to other places and cities for a short time, but in that brief time I cannot give the people occult teachings. I can give them a taste. I can give them a drop of water but not the full cup, because occult teachings can only be given over a long period of time.

Those of you who have studied comparative religion will have heard of Zarathustra. There were two important Zarathustras; one who lived just after the Post-Atlantean period began and one who lived about 600 B.C. The latter being was not really named Zarathustra, but rather Nazaretos from which we have the word Nazareth. This is a fact of occult teaching. The first Zarathustra, who lived thousands and thousands of years before Christ, had only two disciples. He imbued these two disciples with his teachings, and when this was completed he died.

These two disciples died and later incarnated again, in the same country, Egypt, but at different times. One of these disciples is today called Hermes, and the other one, of whom we heard so much in the Sunday School of the past, was called Moses. If we understand occult teachings just a little, then from this story we must realise that Zarathustra taught these two disciples for a whole lifetime so that they could later become the leaders and the spiritual inspiration of two separate cultures and peoples.

Once we comprehend what it means to be taught occult wisdom, then we see that it is not just a matter of paying $150 and following a course. It becomes a matter of years and lifetimes. I know by the very worth of some of you and by the inner inclination which has brought you to this place to be taught by me, that you are ready for occult teachings, but you must grant yourselves a lifetime to learn occultism. In this lifetime you must be patient and learn the A to Z of occultism and its techniques.

This cannot be achieved through little sermons on Sundays and Thursday nights, nor can it be realised from the teachings given on Sunday nights in our lectures. This is done through day after day of patient slogging together with one another, working shoulder to shoulder. Day by day we are imbued and impregnated by the spirit which this place breathes and which no other place in the entire world can ever breathe. I am not saying that this is the only place where occult teachings are given, but as far as the southern hemisphere is concerned we are the only Christian occult school. And from the experiences of our master, Jesus Christ, we know that only a very small number are willing to really listen and be taught in that manner.

St Paul was the founder of the first Christian occult school and as such his writings have been the guiding light of my entire life. In his letters we find the foundation of occultism and a deeply spiritual life. In his letter to the Romans he says:

I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2

Our Four Bodies
He is speaking here of that which we have received in past incarnations and which must now be revealed within us. We must present our bodies, our four bodies -- physical, etheric, astral and individuality -- as a living sacrifice. This is the beginning of occult teaching. There is nothing we can do until these four bodies are given.

This is why occult teachings cannot be taught to children because children do not have these four bodies. The teachings can only be given to those who are adult and mature. The child receives the physical body and for the first seven years is trying to settle into it. Individuality and the expression of the I AMness comes after the teenage years, when we have reached twenty-one years of age. We may prepare little children for occult teachings but we cannot teach them. They cannot express that which they do not have within their souls first and foremost.

I have met many so-called spiritual people throughout the world who have not been able to integrate their bodies into a oneness with sanity of mind. These people will never be able to grasp the reality and purpose of occultism, because the first thing that is taught in an occult school is how to handle the four bodies so that they can then be presented to God as a gift to be used by him. And I reiterate that this cannot be done in a single lecture. This can only be achieved over a long period through painstaking work and effort.

Conformed or Transformed?
In the Lord's Prayer it says, "Thy will be done, on earth" -- that is, in my body -- "as it is in heaven" -- that is, in the same manner that the will of God is expressed in the cosmic universe. But when we look at one another and the world, what do we see? In society we see a group of people, including ourselves, conforming to the pressures and problems created by its desires. We must realise just how feeble our human will is. As long as we are driven by passions and selfish desires which motivate our bodies we are not conformed to the will of God.

People often say, "It is God's will," but how do they know that? More often than not we disguise our own selfish will as God's will and then follow it under the illusion that we are serving God. The reason this happens is that people do not know the occult and therefore continue to be conformed to this present age. We are miserable, weak human beings because our passions and lusts devour us. It is as simple and as difficult as that.

The Renewal of Your Mind
Jesus said, "By the fruits we can judge the tree"; an apple tree will not bring forth pears. Therefore, if we do not see the fruits worthy of deep spiritual knowledge and occultism in a spiritual person, we are entitled to doubt them.

It is only by the transformation of our minds that the power of the Christ becomes apparent within us. In the Greek, the word mind is nous which indicates not only the physical and intellectual faculties of perception, but also the knowing of the soul which is impregnated by the Christ. In order to attain this we must subject ourselves to the very will and dynamic power of the Christ, and become the channel.

The Demonstration of Power
We do not have to go out into the highways and byways to attract people. They will come of their own volition to learn, for the ones who need to hear our message have connections with us from past incarnations. The bonds which bind them over many lifetimes will draw them to this Centre and the knowledge which is available here. Through absorbing this knowledge they will be renewed and the horizons of their consciousness will be extended.

What we do need to do is demonstrate occult power, through the discipline of our lives, not only to the world, but for the benefit of our brothers and sisters who await the revelation which you and I bring. We must show them that a living, breathing occult school exists which functions in a balanced and sane manner.

I address myself to those of you who have the innate desire to express that which is good, beautiful, perfect, and the will of God, those who belong to the Brotherhood and who have the Christ impulse within. Those who feel no response will never know occult truth, for though we may proclaim it from the house tops, if your inner ears cannot hear and your inner eye cannot see, you will not perceive truth. But if this message draws an inner response from you, then the call is also to you.