Help....Attaching vessel sink to counter top?

I'm installing a vessel sink on top of a gl tile counter top and have an issue figuring out how to attach the drain since all the instructions I have are pretty much moot. Does the drain pipe screw into the vessel sink ONLY, leaving the vessel sink just sitting on top of the counter top with no real support or does the pipe screw into both the sink and counter top for support. It's hard to describe but maybe it'll be easier if I put it in order looking at the sink from top to bottom: grid drain, plumbers putty, sink, mounting ring, rubber gasket, lock nut(it all just slides into the counter top hole); or grid drain , plumbers putty, sink, mounting ring, counter top, rubber gasket, lock nut???????