印度教的具体原则和戒律因不同教派而异：但存在一些代表了该宗教基本原理的共同点，在《吠陀经》古代经典中得到了表达和反映，以下简述这些共同原则和戒律。
永恒正法（Sanatana Dharma）的原则是建立和维持社会及其成员和管理者的正常运作，不论任何环境，印度教的原则和哲学是一致的：人生的终极目标旨在觉悟其实相。印度教认为，只有一种绝对神性，一种将存在的一切方面连接在一起的非凡力量——被称为绝对的“唵”（ OM 有时也拼作AUM）)。该神性是一切造物之主，是每个人都能听到的宇宙之声。OM有几个神圣的显现，包括梵天、毗湿奴和湿婆。
伦理和道德行为被视作人类生活中最宝贵的追求，个人灵魂（jivatma）已是神圣灵魂（Paramatma）的一部分，尽管它仍然处于休眠和迷惑的状态。人类的神圣使命旨在唤醒其灵魂，意识到其真正的神性。
寻求者的目标是与神合一，并非作为单独的个体，而是与神密不可分（合一）。
3G分别是Ganges（恒河，印度的圣河，是净化罪孽的地方）、Gita（《薄伽梵歌》圣典）、Gayatri（伽耶曲梵咒，《梨俱吠陀》中神圣梵咒，也是同一特定韵律中的一首诗）。
印度教的10条戒律包括5个社会目标，称为“禁制”（ Yamas）或伟大誓戒，以及5个个人目标，称为“劝制”（ Niyamas）。五禁制（Yamas）为诸多印度哲学所共有。“禁制”是一种政治目标，因为它们是以道德约束或社会义务的形式存在的广泛社会的和普遍的美德。是神与灵魂等同的原则，它是印度教基本道德法则的支柱：人们根植于最伟大的真理，万物一体。人应该诚实，在生活中不要欺骗、不诚实或撒谎。此外，一个真正的人不会为说出真相所造成的损失而后悔或耿耿于怀。
是一种积极的、动态的力量，它意味着对众生（包括知识对象和各种观点）仁慈、关爱、善意或宽容（或以上所有）。
这是印度教四大修持之一，初学的学生应该在人生的前25年里禁欲，把精力集中在无私的工作和学习上，为以后的生活做准备。梵行意味着严格尊重个人界限，保存重要的生命力量，戒除饮酒、性行为、吃肉、吸烟、吸毒和麻醉剂。相反，学生要把心思用在学习上，避免那些会点燃激情的事情，修持静默。
不仅指不偷盗物品，还指不剥削，不要剥夺别人的东西，无论是东西、权利还是观点。正直的人通过努力工作、诚实和公平的手段，以自己的方式挣钱。
提醒学生简单生活，只保留那些维持日常生活所需的物品。
五劝制（Niyamas）为印度教修行者提供规则，以发展自律，这是遵循灵性道路所必需的。是有意识地减少欲望，限制成就和财产，缩小欲望的领域和范围。
不仅指阅读经典，而且运用经典来造就中立的、无偏见的、纯净的心智，准备好进行自省，创造个人疏漏与委任、公开与秘密的行为、成功与失败的平衡。
是在苦行生活中遵行身心戒律，苦行包括长时间保持沉默，乞食，晚上保持清醒，席地而卧，独处森林，长时间站立，练习贞操。该修持产生热量，这是一种构建在现实结构中的自然力量，是现实结构与创造背后的力量之间的本质联系。
要求学生臣服神的旨意，以一种无私、冷静和自然的方式去做每一件事，接受好的或坏的结果，把自己的行为结果（业力）留给神。
The specific principles and disciplines of Hinduism vary withdifferent sects: but there are commonalities which represent the bedrock of thereligion,expressed and reflected in the ancient writings of the Vedas.Below are brief descriptionsof these common principles and disciplines.The principles of Sanatana Dharma were made to create andmaintain the proper working of a society and its members and governors.Regardless of the circumstances, the principles and philosophy of Hinduismremain the same: the ultimate aim of human life is to realize its trueform. God Exists. According to the Hindu religion, there is only oneAbsolute Divine, a singular force that joins all facets of existence togetherknown as the Absolute OM (sometimes spelled AUM). This divine is theLord of All Creation and a universal sound that is heard within every livinghuman being. There are several divine manifestations of the OM, including Brahma, Vishnu,and Maheshwara (Shiva). All Human Beings Are Divine. Ethical and moral behavioris considered the most prized pursuit of human life. The soul of an individual(jivatma) is already part of the divine soul (the Paramatma) althoughit remains in a dormant and deluded condition. It is the sacred mission of allhumans to awaken their soul and make it realize its true divine nature. Unity of Existence. The seekers aim to beat-oneness with God, not as separate individuals (oneness of self), but rathera closer connection (at-one-ness) with God.Religious Harmony. The most basic natural lawis to remain in harmony with its fellow creatures and the universal. Knowledge of 3 Gs. The three Gs are the Ganges(the sacred river in India where the cleansing of sins occurs), the Gita (thesacred script of the Bhagavad-Gita), and the (a revered, sacred mantra found inthe Rig Veda, and also a poem/intonement in the same specific meter).The 10 disciplines in Hinduism include five political goalscalled Yamas or Great Vows, and five personal goals called Niyamas. The 5 Great Vows (Yamas) are shared by many Indianphilosophies. The Yamas are political goals, in that they are broad-basedsocial and universal virtues in the form of moral restraints or socialobligations. Satya (Truth) is the principle thatequates God with soul. It is the mainstay of the basic moral law of Hinduism:people are rooted in Satya, the greatest truth, unity of all life. One shouldbe truthful; not act fraudulently, be dishonest or a liar in life. Further, atrue person does not regret or brood over losses caused by speakingtruth. Ahimsa (Non-violence) is a positive anddynamic force, that means benevolence or love or goodwill or tolerance (or allof the above) of all living creatures, including the objects of knowledge andvarious perspectives. Brahmacharya (Celibacy, non-adultery) is one of thefour great ashrams of Hinduism. The beginning student is to spend the first 25years of one's life practicing abstinence from the sensual pleasures of life, andinstead concentrate on selfless work and study to prepare for life beyond.Brahmacharya means stringent respect of personal boundaries, and thepreservation of vital life force; abstinence from wine, sexual congress,meat-eating, consumption of tobacco, drugs, and narcotics. The student insteadapplies the mind to studies, avoids things that ignite passions, practicesilence, Asteya (No desire to steal) refers not just to the theftof objects but to refrain from exploitation. Do not deprive others of what istheirs, whether it is things, rights, or perspectives. An upright person earnshis or her own way, by dint of hard work, honesty, and fair means. Aparigraha (Non-possessiveness) warns the student tolive simply, keep only those material things that are required to sustain thedemands of daily life. The five Niyamas provide the Hindu practitioner with rules todevelop the personal discipline essential to follow the spiritual pathShaucha or Shuddhata (Cleanliness) refers tothe internal and external purification of both body and mind. Santosh (Contentment) is the consciousreduction of desires, the limiting of attainments and possessions, narrowingdown the area and scope of one's desire.Swadhyaya (Reading of scriptures) refers not just to thereading of the scriptures but the use them to create a neutral, unbiased andpure mind ready to conduct the self-introspection required to create a balancesheet of one's omissions and commissions, overt and covert deeds, successes andfailures. Tapas/Tapah (Austerity, perseverance, penance) isthe performance of physical and mental discipline throughout a life ofasceticism. Ascetic practices include observing silence for long periods oftime, begging for food, remaining awake at night, sleeping on the ground, beingisolated in the forest, standing for a prolonged time, practicing chastity. Thepractice generates heat, a natural power built into the structure of reality,the essential link between the structure of reality, and the force behindcreation. Ishwar pradihan (Regular prayers) requires the studentto surrender to the will of God, perform every act in a selfless, dispassionateand natural way, accept the good or bad results, and leave the result of one'sdeeds (one's karma) to God. 相关阅读
禁制（Yama）——八支瑜伽最重要的第一支，瑜伽修行者必须遵循！
劝制（Niyamas）——八支瑜伽的第二支，瑜伽修行者必须遵行！