What was the author's character like before he fully embraced the Satguru's teachings, and how does this relate to Baba's warnings about argumentation?

Before his transformation, the author describes himself as having a challenging personality. In Chapter 2, he admits to being mischievous, talkative, cynical, and critical. He was arrogant about his knowledge, possessing a logic-driven mind that was proud of his own wisdom and prone to argumentation. This self-characterization directly reflects Sai Baba's warnings, also found in Chapter 2, that a 'mind for argumentation' is filled with ignorance and Maya. Baba cautions against such debates, calling them useless efforts that prevent one from attaining self-knowledge and happiness.