How did the author, Hemadpant, describe his own character before his spiritual journey began?

In Chapter 2, the author, Hemadpant, provides a very critical self-assessment of his character before he became a devotee. He describes himself as being mischievous, talkative, cynical, and prone to criticism. He confesses to having a "bad intellect and a logic-driven mind," and was always proud of his own wisdom, which made him prone to argumentation. He states that he was arrogant about his knowledge and, at that time, knew nothing of the greatness of a Satguru. This description serves as a starting point to show the transformation he undergoes through his association with Sai.