"The literal meaning of wabi is 'poverty,' but in aesthetics what is understood is a poverty of superficiality and artificiality. Wabi lies in finding that intangible, but valuable, 'something' within ourselves and our art that defies trends and is timeless. To find value on the inside and in the soul of things, rather than in their monetary worth — or in monetary worth itself — is to cleave to the spirit of wabi. There is a Zen saying:

"Ware tada taru o sihru
I don't know much. I only know that I'm perfectly satisfied.

"This expresses the essence of the wabi attitude of acceptance, in which being at peace in nature is valued above luxury, wealth, and opulence.

"Once this understanding of our innate nature, as well as our innate unity with nature itself, is firmly recognized, then every moment and aspect of our lives is transformed. Whether at home, outdoors, in the city, or in the country, our lives can reflect an essential naturalness, simplicity, and ease of living that are our birthright. This is wabi-zumai, or 'a wabi lifestyle,' and it goes beyond a mere preference for an uncomplicated, unaffected, natural mode of living. Wabi-zumai is as much about what we are as it is about where we are, what we wear, and other externals."