How does the author describe his own personality before writing the stories, and how does this relate to Sai Baba's warnings about argumentation?

In Chapter 2, the author, who would later be named Hemadpant, provides a candid self-assessment of his former character. He describes himself as "mischievous, talkative, cynical, and critical." He admits to being proud of his own wisdom and having a logic-driven mind prone to argumentation. This personality is the exact type that Sai Baba cautions against. Sai warns that where there is a mind for argumentation, there is an "abundance of ignorance and Maya" and false logic. He states that such a person is not fit for self-knowledge and will only find unhappiness. Sai's direct advice, "Do not engage in dualistic explanations," serves as a direct counterpoint to the author's initial argumentative nature.