Reddit mentions of The Gurus, the Young Man, and Elder Paisios

with this background, though I've never read it myself, I'd recommend The Guru, The Young Man, and Elder Paisios. My husband read it (he has a background in Christianity, with a semi-history of far-eastern philosophies and religions), a guy at my parish who was into occult stuff read it, and a Catholic convert (my now Godmother!) with a history of Yoga was the one who recommended it to my husband. It's just a memoir, not a theology book specifically.

Also, I really like Andrew Louth's Introducing Eastern Orthodox Theology. I can imagine it being easy to understand from a non-Christian background. You may need a dictionary for some bigger words, but nothing, that I can recall, that requires an understanding of other Christian doctrines/dogmas.

Pick up a copy of The Gurus, the Young Man, and Elder Paisios some time.

It seems like there is a lot of information out there on the web, including some articles from some Christian sources. This article echoes some of the things you are saying: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13193b.htm

Not many occultists here, as you might imagine, except maybe some ex-occultists.

I suggest you read The Gurus, the Young Man, and Elder Paisius, The Mountain of Silence: A Search for Orthodox Spirituality, and/or Everyday Saints if you want an Orthodox Christian take on Christian mysticism. The last book was the #1 bestseller in Russia for several weeks and was translated to English just recently.

May God keep you, my friend!

I might instead recommend a book like this one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AFFFCDK/

The author shares his experiences in both hindu / occult stuff and orthodox monastics. It's cool to get the perspective of someone that has experienced the inexplicable on both sides.