user11288: I am looking for that very specific sutta in the Pâli Canons wherein it is made plain that such a one not having himself attained to liberation, is not qualified to liberate other. The simile, I think, is about being mired in quicksands...
Thank you for your kind attention, your help is very much appreciated.

user-1: The sutta you are looking for can be found in the MN 8 - Sallekha Sutta: Effacement.
Here the Buddha gives the following teaching to Ven. Cunda:

(The way of extinguishing)

“Cunda, that one who is himself sinking in the mud should pull out another who is sinking in the mud is impossible; that one who is not himself sinking in the mud should pull out another who is sinking in the mud is possible. That one who is himself untamed, undisciplined, [with defilements] unextinguished, should tame another, discipline him, and help extinguish [his defilements] is impossible; that one who is himself tamed, disciplined, [with defilements] extinguished, should tame another, discipline him, and help extinguish [his defilements] is possible



11288: <p>I am looking for that very specific sutta in the Pâli Canons wherein it is made plain that such a one not having himself attained to liberation, is not qualified to liberate other. The simile, I think, is about being mired in quicksands...</p>

<p>Thank you for your kind attention, your help is very much appreciated.</p>
 -1: <p>The sutta you are looking for can be found in the <a href="https://suttacentral.net/en/mn8#table-of-contents" rel="noreferrer"><em>MN 8 - Sallekha Sutta: Effacement</em></a>.</p>
<p>Here the Buddha gives the following teaching to Ven. Cunda:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>(The way of extinguishing)</p>
<ol start="16">
<li>“Cunda, that one who is himself sinking in the mud should pull out another who is sinking in the mud is impossible; that one who is not himself sinking in the mud should pull out another who is sinking in the mud is possible. That one who is himself untamed, undisciplined, [with defilements] unextinguished, should tame another, discipline him, and help extinguish [his defilements] is impossible; that one who is himself tamed, disciplined, [with defilements] extinguished, should tame another, discipline him, and help extinguish [his defilements] is possible</li>
</ol>
</blockquote>
