大乘義章 19.27

19.27

次第七門明其次第。次第有二：一觀入次第。如《地論》說，應佛麁現，隨化易覩，先明應身；尋應有本，次明報身；尋報有本，後明法身。二本末次第。法身是本，先明法身；依法成德，次明報身；依德起用，後明應身。三佛淵深難以情測，且依詮呪粗述若此。

Next, the seventh section explains their sequence. There are two kinds of sequence: First, the sequence of contemplation and entry. As the Daśabhūmika-śāstra states, the response Buddha manifests coarsely, is easily observed in accordance with transformation, so the response body is explained first; tracing the response back to its origin, the recompense body is explained next; tracing the recompense back to its origin, the dharmakāya is explained last. Second, the sequence of origin and derivative. The dharmakāya is the origin, so the dharmakāya is explained first; relying on the Dharma, virtues are accomplished, so the recompense body is explained next; relying on virtues, functions arise, so the response body is explained last. The three Buddhas are profound and difficult to measure with ordinary thought; relying tentatively on texts and explanations, they are roughly described as above.