Dorje’s mom recently got a book on Ayurvedic health and nutrition for children. As with most Ayurvedic books, there was a questionnaire to complete to determine the child’s dominant dosha/s – Vata, Pitta and Kapha.

His mom and I started to answer the questions together. However, each question turned into a debate. Are Dorje’s eyes “large” or “normal”? “How much larger do you want them to be!?” “They aren’t large – compare them to X!”. Does he have a “sharp, aggressive” intellect, or “calm and steady”? “Sharps and aggressive – he picks up things very quickly”. “No, but he’s calm and steady…”

We decided to answer the questions separately, and compare answers.

I completed the questionnaire, totted up the totals, and discovered Dorje was an overwhelming pitta/vata type. 21.5 vata, 22.5 pitta and a measly 2 kapha.

His mom disagreed.

According to her, Dorje was largely pitta and kapha, with vata trailing well behind. At least we agree on the fiery pitta!

I’m not sure why we view Dorje in such wildly differing ways. Perhaps he behaves differently with each of us? Or perhaps, to my pitta/kapha constitution, Dorje seems like a flighty vata, while to Anique’s pitta/vata, he seems a placid kapha.

It seems we need a 3rd opinion…