Abstract: The causes of suffering are a central topic in Buddhism as well as in Ayurveda. The Pāli Canon and other early Buddhist texts like the Milindapañha mention eight specific causes resulting in disease or suffering at several places. In contrast, early Ayurveda, as presented in the Carakasaṃhitā, knows a threefold causal complex of diseases or suffering in general. In this study, I aim to present and disentangle the confusing information in the Carakasaṃhitā and isolate two consistent models of causes of suffering. Based on this analysis it is possible to better understand the interrelation of these models as well as their position in contrast to the causes enumerated in the early Buddhist texts.