Epstein Files and Need for Human Code of Conduct (Reht)

Over 3 million images and videos have been made public, linking many powerful and super-rich public figures with Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender. An extensive network of sexual exploitation and trafficking has been exposed. The files reveal how Epstein exploited elite social, business, and political networks to create a global criminal enterprise. This indicates a failure in current ethical standards among the powerful, where social connections allowed for the evasion of justice.

According to UN experts, the trafficking and sexual slavery indicted by the files, meet the threshold of crimes against humanity, highlighting an urgent need for global standards to combat extreme misogyny and the dehumanization of women and girls.

The sordid saga continues with daily headlines and new revelations. It is a series of events over the decades which are morally corrupt. The naming of many global figures, including British royal, ex-Prince Andrew, have shaken the average person. It is remarkable how even after a 2008 sex conviction, Epstein continued contacts with high profile people. This highlights the need for a stronger ethical framework that places objective checks and public accountability in public appointments above social familiarity.

Whatever their alleged involvement, the image of these rich and powerful men has suffered. Without a self-disciplining code of human conduct, we are reminded of Gurbani Pankti:

ਹੇ ਕਾਮੰ ਨਰਕ ਬਿਸ੍ਰਾਮੰ ਬਹੁ ਜੋਨੀ ਭ੍ਰਮਾਵਣਹ ॥ (O sexual desire, you lead the mortals to hell []]lead them astray to suffer] wandering in reincarnations (SGGS Ang 1358)

The names of the famous include President Trump. According to sources, he has been mentioned over 38,000 times. In one 2019 email from Epstein allegedly claimed Trump knew about the girls, Trump has denied that. Ex-Prince Andrew now just Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, continued contact with Epstein even after conviction of Epstein in 2008. Photos show him in compromising positions with women. He was arrested on 19 February 2026. Peter Mandelson, former UK politician resigned from the Labour Party and the House of Lords after files suggested he received $75,000 in payments from Epstein and allegedly shared sensitive government information. He was arrested by police on 23 February 2026 on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Emails show that Elon Musk was inquiring about wild parties on an island owned by Epstein. Amongst others, Bill Gates has been mentioned.

The Epstein files show that unless a code of conduct is followed in life, human nature leads one astray. More so once a certain level of affluence and fame is reached. Desire for pleasure and power has no limits and, if not controlled and disciplined, leads to misery.

That too is the central Message of Gurbani and the Sikh Code of Conduct, the Sikh Reht Maryada derived from Gurbani, the collective Wisdom of saintly beings including the Gurus and their lived experience. It is the key to Sikh spiritual and social philosophy.

Epstein files is a powerful reminder for the Sikhs facing their own challenges in Panjab and globally, that truthful conduct and honest living is the only solution to Sikhi survival. Living a Sikhi life as close to the Sikh Reht Maryada as possible, can gives us stable family lives, sense of Sikhi responsibility, unity and community strength. It is not numbers but quality of lived Sikhi which matters.

Guru Gobind Singh Ji made it clear that Sikhi Reht, the code of conduct derived from Gurbani, is more important for Him then the Sikh (in name only).

Gurmukh Singh OBE

E-mail: sewauk2005@yahoo.co.uk

https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Gurmukh_Singh_OBE