is a Buddhist priest (in charge of a temple); honorific title of preceptor or high priest (especially in Zen or Pure Land Buddhism). The same kanji are also pronounced kashà  as an honorific title of preceptor or high priest in Tendai or Kegon Buddhism and wajà  as an honorific title of preceptor or high priest in Shingon, Hossà Â, Ritsu, or Shin Buddhism.
Oshà  is the Japanese reading of a Tibetan term meaning a high-ranking or highly-virtuous Buddhist monk. It is also a respectful designation for monks in general and may be used with the suffix -san.
According to the KÃ Âjien Japanese dictionary and the Kanjigen dictionary of Chinese character source meanings, it is originally derived from the Sanskrit upÃÂdhyÃÂya, meaning "master" in the sense of "teacher".
The literal meaning is "self-taught Buddhist monk/teacher" The Chinese term "he-shang" is derived from the Sanskrit word upadhyaya or acharya:
The standard English translation of oshà  has become "priest", it has a somewhat different connotation in Zen:
According to the Kà Âjien, the two characters that make up the word are pronounced oshà  only in the Zen and Kegon schools. For example, they are read kashà  in Tendai and wajà  in Shingon Buddhism.
Oshà  became an honorific title for Zen-masters", meaning "harmonious respect":
An example of its use is in Rinzai's teachings:
In Sà Âtà  Zen, to become an oshà Â, teacher, two more steps are to be taken after dharma transmission, namely ten-e and zuise.
Ten-e means "to turn the robe":
After zuise one becomes an oshà Â, whereafter one may become the resident priest in one's own temple. Hereby one can gain the highest rank:
To supervise the training of monks, further qualifications are necessary:
The term became well known in the West when Rajneesh began calling himself Osho.