Stain First under clear or after paste?

If you intend to fill the grain with Paste & stain the wood, should you paste first then sand the paste. After that stain, then 1st clear coat?

Some have said to apply stain first, then a thin clear coat, then paste. Even if it prevents rubbing into the stain while sanding the paste, it just seems more sense to do the above?

Unless it's due to coloring or something?


thanks

Not that I stain wood, I use paste to fill the grain. Intuitively I would think paste, sand and then whatever.

Regards,

Rob