Just as the world of matter is dominated by the essential principles of matter, density, solidity, darkness and inconscience, at the next level, where the principle of the Life-Energy is the characteristic element, we see the dominant principle of energy, desire, vital outreach and seeking, the play of vital attraction and repulsion. In this case, the action of Mind and the action of Matter both become subordinated to the primary attributes of this vital life energy and thus, the essential relationship between the three terms is different than that in the world of Matter.
One would naturally expect that in the vital-dominated world of Life-Energy, material forms are much more fluid and take new shapes and respond to the demands of the desire-force. Similarly the Mind works to enhance and carry out the vital will of life.
This level is above the level of Matter and one can say that it has its own substance and occupies its own unique niche in the series between Matter and Spirit.
reference: Sri Aurobindo, The Life Divine, Chapter 26, The Ascending Series of Substance
