Why do they barter? To get what they need or to get what they want? Do those engaged in barter even question need and want, or are they deceived to only focus on value? If they don't evaluate need over want, then the value they focus on is in ignorance of self.

Right, so as you expose that perhaps was my Talmind (brainwashed thinking) unconsciously attaching on to 'barter' as a fixed meaining; a belief that it is somehow automatically 'more natural' than money. But as you point out here if one engages in barter based on the same selfish patterns that one engages in money then it is no better; such act is simply exchanging one form of idolotry for another.

Understand that the motion we are in represents forward movement towards death, which makes all that exists a temptation pulling us towards our end. our temporary momentum within motion represent resistance to motion, which is why our needs of self sustenance are defined by struggle.

Perhaps stated another way: our 'struggle' represents resistance to the pull of death. It is from this very resistance that we can grow to reach higher potential because resistance to death's pull is the mechanism for energy's recharge; resistance to the pull of death is temporary momentum, thus motion (away from death).

Taken further, the path that energy flows is already defined (and communicated to us via 'nature') and as such as an individual, ONE of many within ALL the ALL of which is the flow of nature, our 'momentum' (ie- energy gained by resisting death; by pulling away) is best applied to participating in this flow. 'Go with the flow' as they say.

Otherwise, your struggle may be handicapped by the wrong intent ie- if you struggle to lift weigths and exhaust your body in physical training for hours & hours every day 6 days a week - only to engage in temptations outside of that struggle (ie- lust, drugs, excessive eating, greed) then your momentum is just wasted and unsustainable.

Therefore the most 'effecient' human is one who not only struggles to resist death, but who applies the strength gained from that resistance (the momentum gained; the newly transmuted 'energy') into the flow of nature - and as you suggest, not for selfish wants but for growing the roots of ONE's ecosystem & emmanating the fruits outwardly for the benefit of ALL.

(in other words, we should all become 'trees' haha - in all seriousness though it does seem like a good analogy and once again I appreciate your literal nautral insights)

the things we don't need (wants, temptations, lust, ego fulfillment).

These are all inspiration to adhere to needs. Remember; we are within balance, which means opposites must coexist, because they're defined by each others coexistence within motion.

So are you saying, and implying because opposties must coexist, that we 'need' not necessarily reject wants, temptations, lust, ego fulfillment - but rather 'comprehend' what these things are; and comprehension implies some extent of 'experience' and as such just as the child most effectively learns by experience - or even the adult learns by doing - its 'OK' to make an occasional 'mistake' by falling for the temptation of lust or wants, greed; the key factor is learning from the experience to comprehend those things more effeictvely to better inspire yourself to grow in the oppostie direction that they pull you towards (corruption, death). Is this accurate?

I'm not trying to rationalize degenate behavior but do recognize for one to truly understand degeneracy one my have to have been a degnerate - at least to some extent. And if the degneracy took hold beyond the point of no return (such is the case for addicts for example) then as you might say the inspriration from those other ONEs in the ecosystem ie- family may get the resulting benefit of increased comprehension of the danger of falling for temptation; a form of indirect 'charge' emmanated from the addict's loss. As such, even in an otherwise tragic path to death of an addict, the resulting consequence may result in some form of positive outcome hence a loss/recharge cycle; an opposite co-existing (an addict who died wanting more vs the next of kin who learned from that to live a fulfilling life by not wanting).

By the way - a challenge when one 'reads' is that some of us are looking for yes/no answers. We want to be told the 'absolute truth'. So I may be stuck in that pattern; among many other patterns we are (((trained))) to follow (everything other than our own needs of course).

What you say is of course subject also to what you say: your words are in motion; as such there is no 'perfection' here nor 'absolute' truths in nature. We are ALL ONEs at every possible state of existence. Most important is perhaps balance and the 'best balance' is sustaining the needs of thyself to maximize our potential state in this existence; growing oneself as an 'ecosystem' to emit (and attract) positive inspiration & cycles of yet more sustaining growth patterns a result of the unity afforded by said ecosystem and growth therof.