Answer

Yes, you are expressing a very real truth.

The practice of becoming Vitraag—free from attachment and aversion—is extremely difficult. Jain Dharma never presents it as easy. It is one of the highest spiritual goals.

To remove inner likes, dislikes, ego, anger, pride, deceit, greed, attachment, and expectations is indeed like climbing a very steep mountain.

Explanation

In Jain understanding, Vitraagta means a state where the soul is no longer pulled by:

• Raag — attachment, liking, craving
• Dvesh — hatred, aversion, dislike

Externally, one may appear calm. But deep inside, the passions may still be active. That is why Jain Dharma places great importance on inner purification, not just outer behavior.

The path is difficult because the soul has been bound with karmas since beginningless time. Habits of attachment and aversion are very deep. So the struggle is natural.

But Jain Dharma also teaches that this path is possible through gradual practice:

• Samyak Darshan — right faith
• Samyak Jnan — right knowledge
• Samyak Charitra — right conduct
• Tap — austerity and discipline
• Samayik — practice of equanimity
• Pratikraman — repentance and self-correction
• Kayotsarg — detachment from body-consciousness

Spiritual Understanding

The beauty of Jain Dharma is that it does not ask us to pretend we are already detached. It asks us to honestly see our bondage.

To realize, “I still have attachment,” is itself a spiritual awakening.

A person who sees the difficulty sincerely is often closer to the path than one who merely speaks about detachment but does not observe the inner self.

The Arihants are called Vitraag because they have completely conquered attachment and aversion. For us, the path begins with small victories:

• pausing before anger,
• reducing possessiveness,
• accepting insult calmly,
• not reacting to every dislike,
• remembering that the soul is separate from body, people, objects, and situations.

Takeaway

Yes, the core practice of Vitraagta is an uphill battle.

But in Jain Dharma, every sincere step toward reducing attachment and aversion is spiritually meaningful. The mountain is high, but the path has been shown clearly by the Tirthankars.