Prayer Rolling

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Supplies

To prepare for prayer rolling, you'll need the following items:

• Prayer strips printed on saffron-colored paper (e.g. Āryatārā prayer strips for Buddha statues, stupas, prayer wheel, or life force pillars)
• A pure, coreless incense stick
• Thin cotton cloth or lama's robe in saffron or deity-specific colors
• A paper glue stick
• Eco-friendly red dye or marker
• A pair of scissors
• An oblong block of wood

Instructions

For Buddha Statue or Stupa

The video demonstrates how to roll prayer strips. Additional videos may show techniques using wider strips. For deeper understanding, refer to the essential prayers for holy objects.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Prepare your incense stick

   Cut a piece of pure, coreless incense to match the width of your prayer strip. This will go inside the very first strip.

2. Roll the first strip

   Glue the incense stick inside the first prayer strip. Start rolling from the "head" of the text (the beginning), with the text facing inward. Roll this strip all the way.

3. Understand the rolling pattern

   Prayer rolls follow a pattern. There are two main types:

   • Standard roll (6 strips total):

     • First strip: roll all the way (with incense stick)
     • Second strip: roll all the way
     • One group of 3 strips: added one by one with 2 cm overlap between each
     • Final strip: roll all the way

   • Expanded roll (12, 18, 36 strips, etc.):

     • First strip: roll all the way (with incense stick)
     • Second strip: roll all the way
     • Multiple groups of 3 strips: each added one by one with 2 cm overlap
     • Final strip: roll all the way
   
   

   Important: When rolling a group of 3 strips, do not stack them. Add the first strip, roll 2 cm, then add the second, roll 2 cm, then add the third and roll all the way.

4. Keep rolling with control

   As you add strips (single or grouped), hold both ends of the incense stick to help guide the roll and keep it tight.

5. Tighten the roll

   Once all strips are added, roll the prayer tightly on a firm surface using an oblong block of wood.

6. Seal the final strip

   Glue the last 2 cm of the final strip firmly to finish the roll.

7. Mark the top

   Use red dye or a marker to mark the top of the prayer roll.

8. Wrap with cloth

   Wrap the roll in cloth that matches its width. Glue the cloth all around, covering the seam where the ends meet.

9. Label the roll

   Write the prayer name and the number of repetitions on a small piece of paper. Glue it to the outside of the roll.

For Prayer Wheel

The process of rolling prayer strips for a prayer wheel is similar to that for a Buddha statue or stupa - with a few key differences.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Orientation matters

   Roll the prayer strips so the text faces outward. Unlike the statue/stupa method, do not include a pure incense stick. Leave a central gap so the finished roll can slide onto the prayer wheel rod.

2. Start with the right strip

   Begin with a prayer wheel life force pillar strip, or a smaller prayer wheel strip. Follow with Buddha statue/stupa prayer strips (e.g. Āryatārā prayer wheel strips and Buddha statue/stupa strips).

3. Add symbolic elements

   Place the earth wheel at the bottom of the prayer roll, facing upward, and the sky wheel at the top, facing downward.