"Margaret makes huge contributions to our mandala and to all the Grass Valley activities. She is a steady, positive presence and we would not be able to succeed without her. She is efficient, reliable, and just a delight to share the Dharma with!"
- Gangaya Das

Conceived, born and raised in Wisconsin, Peggy van der Putten grew up with a Catholic family, the youngest and only one to ultimately leave the homeland.

You most likely “know” me as Margaret Soffian but that’s been my moniker for only the last 30 or so years. I grew up with the Packers, the Blessed Virgin, spiritual bouquets, archery and bowling, Irish weddings, Dutch pies and stoicism, and singing in the choir.

I studied in the Universities, felt mostly unguided throughout the years, studied with Swami Rama, married twice and gave birth to all three of my very individual, amazing children there while growing to love jazz, acting, and multi tasking.

Ananda is my oldest son, now known as Chojar to many; a songwriter, musician, Ayurvedic chef and student. Then came Amos, now a film maker and screenwriter and Viva, a singer, songwriter, sound specialist and seeker. All three have been my greatest teachers and I am learning from them constantly. Robert and I raised the kids in the Jewish religion and they can all tell you about their Bar and Bat Mitzvahs sometime!

I’ve been a registered nurse first working with traumatically injured and other critical patients for many years in Charlottesville, Virginia, Redding, San Francisco, and now with terminally ill hospice patients and families in Grass Valley/Nevada City.

Having moved alone to Grass Valley to study Ayurveda, I met Kali Ma several years ago at a kirtan, recommended her to Ananda and he immersed himself immediately with her and her teachings.

I am grateful for discovering and opening to Kali Ma’s teachings and her completely compassionate wisdom and support; and for the sangha members who have become new members of my family.

"Chojar came to a public program with us. After that he got our newsletter asking for volunteers for cooking at a three week retreat. He came and cooked and we appreciated him so much that we asked him to stay on with us as our first full-time chef.

It was amazing that he came into being full time staff after knowing us for such a short time. All the other staff had been with me for five or more years. Chojar fit right in with them. He was so devoted and completely consistent. I saw him almost every day and we did a lot of innovating and planning. The whole community now benefits from the recipes he and I made together, many of which are part of the retreat menus.

We will miss him very much and are so happy for his new direction of going back to get his degree. Chojar is a sincere Dharma Practitioner and extraordinary man.
It has been a blessing to have him and his wonderful mother, Margaret
in our Sangha."
-Kali Ma

"It has been a great pleasure to work with Chojar over these last couple of years. His commitment to his work, to his growth and to the Dharma is beautiful to witness. During the time that I have known Chojar, he has grown into a great man of the dharma and though he is a man of few words his actions and his being speak for themselves. I find him to be authentic, straight forward, honest and caring. We are all very lucky to have him as part of our family."
-Aruna Rigdzin Shiva

"Chojar has been a great example of steadfastness, dedication, and practice. As a staff member he was almost always willing to do what needed to be done to the best of his abilities, even in the most intense of circumstances. He worked hard day after day, and consistently put special touches of love and affection for each of the staff in his cooking and shopping for us, loving each of us from our point of view. As a practitioner I enjoyed and am inspired by the way he reaches inside himself to open more than is comfortable and be more present in the face of what is, seeing him practice in the moments of tension. I am continually surprised and delighted by the depth of artistic talent, authenticity, and devotion to the Dharma that he brings. I'm so grateful to have him as a part of our Sangha!"
-Lalita Shiva