Eastern esotericism is a term utilized by various scholars to describe a broad range of religious beliefs and practices originating from the Eastern world, characterized by esoteric, secretive, or occult elements. The classification of Eastern esotericism presents challenges, as it is influenced by varying geographical and cultural definitions of "Eastern" and "Western" contexts, particularly in relation to Islamic nations.
The occult (from Latin occultus 'hidden, secret') is a category of esoteric or supernatural beliefs and practices which generally fall outside the scope of organized religion and science, encompassing phenomena involving a 'hidden' or 'secret' agency, such as magic and mysticism. It can also refer to paranormal ideas such as extra-sensory perception and parapsychology.