What was the author's self-described character and intellectual disposition before he understood the Satguru's greatness?

In Chapter 2, the author provides a candid self-assessment of his former character. He describes himself as having been mischievous, talkative, cynical, and critical. He was arrogant about his own knowledge, possessing a "bad intellect and a logic-driven mind." Lacking any understanding of the Satguru's greatness, he was always proud of his own wisdom and prone to argumentation. This initial state of intellectual pride and cynicism serves as a stark contrast to the surrender and devotion he later embraced, which was a prerequisite for him to become the instrument for writing Sai Baba's story.