大乘義章 2.11

2.11

第六門中明其次第。次第有三：一修入次第。先說無願令厭生死，次說無相令求涅槃，後說空門令其契證。二據終成本末次第。空是德本，菩薩先觀，故先明空。由見空故，不見生死可以貪求故，次第二宣說無願。由證空義不見生死，便與涅槃無相相應故，次第三宣說無相。三約所空體相用等明其次第。先說空門空諸法體，次說無相空諸法相，後說無作空諸法用。次第如是。

In the sixth section, their sequence is clarified. The sequence is threefold: First, the sequence of cultivation and entry. First, the wishless [gate] is taught to make one revulse from saṃsāra; next, the signless [gate] is taught to make one seek nirvāṇa; afterward, the emptiness gate is taught to make one realize and accord with it. Second, the sequence of root and branch based on final completion. Emptiness is the root of virtues, which bodhisattvas contemplate first; therefore, emptiness is clarified first. Because one sees emptiness, one does not see saṃsāra as something that could be greedily sought; therefore, wishlessness is expounded second. Because one realizes the meaning of emptiness and does not see saṃsāra, one then accords with the signlessness of nirvāṇa; therefore, signlessness is expounded third. Third, their sequence is clarified in terms of the substance, characteristics, functions, and so forth that are emptied. First, the emptiness gate is taught to empty the substance of all dharmas; next, the signless [gate] is taught to empty the characteristics of all dharmas; afterward, the unconstructed [gate] is taught to empty the functions of all dharmas. The sequence is like this.