I watched a documentary on Bashar Al-Assad yesterday, the Syrian president and tyrannical autocrat.

I knew awful things have happened there, but I had not followed the situation too closely, and so I was stunned to watch a slightly awkward, mild mannere, gentle man turned into a paranoid, sadistic slaughterer of his own people.

It reminded me of the stories that people tell of the serial killer next door, who was always so friendly, polite, even cheerful.

The fearful thoughts of the ego, the demons of desire, jealousy, lust for power - they exist in every one of us.

And we must be aware of that and remain vigilant against them.

And if you think that YOU are special, that YOU could never be that person, that YOU are better than that…

You are all the more likely to fall under their spell.