EARLY CONNECTIONS
“It’s way past your bedtime!” As my mother called, I quickly shut off the lamp, feigning sleep. She tucked me in, muttering reprimands to her stubborn six-year-old girl and left. Waiting, I pulled out the heavy book from under my pillow. The “Biography of Srila Prabhupada - Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta” had captured my heart. With new eagerness for reading words, I poured through the magical stories for as long as my eyelids would stay open. There were more volumes to complete. Srila Prabhupada entered my dreams and made me feel safe, no matter what was happening around me. How was I to know those first books I read would carry life lessons that I would depend on for the rest of my days.”
krishnarthe akhila cesta
krishna bhakti kaile sarva karma krta haya
Her main service - a bhakti educator:
Gopi Gita Schomaker has been training educators and directly working with children (age 3 to 17) for over 25 years. She has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and over 2,000 hours of continued education credits (including Montessori, Waldorf, Special Education, Education Administration, AVID (college prep) and Bhakti Sastri courses). She serves as Vice Principal in TKG Academy, the first school established in ISKCON in 1972 and as Regional Representative for the North American Ministry of Education. She has worked in a variety of leadership positions and guided hundreds of parents and educators through weekly calls, staff training workshops, and her individualized courses. This is at the heart of her life’s mission.
A mother and wife:
She lives with her husband, Rupa M. Schomaker, a software engineer, and fellow bhakti practitioner. Their 20-year-old son, Vraja is studying computer science in the University of Texas, Dallas and 17-year-old son, Nitai has completed Dual Enrollment at TKG Academy and is now studying electrical engineering at UTD with his brother. Both servant-lead the weekly Mantra Lounge club at UTD, teach weekly at Bhakti Leadership Academy, and worship, work, study and play together.
A bhakti yogi:
An American bhakti practitioner, Gopi Gita Schomaker follows bhakti - Krishna consciousness - in a contemporary setting. She is initiated into the bhakti tradition by Srila Virabahu Prabhu and is the siksha disciple of Srila Giriraj Maharaj, both renowned swamis who travel the world. She is the CEO of Bhakti Leadership Academy, with courses in Bhagavad Gita, Nectar of Instruction (Upadesamrita), Isopanisad (The Original Upanisad), and Nectar of Devotion (Bhakti Rasamrta Sindhu). She, along with her team of youth leaders, guide more than 100 youth across the country through scripture study and leadership processes to develop their skills for when they reach adult life.
Her family:
You may think she looks familiar! Her little sister, Gaura Mani Devi Ji is a grammy-nominated world-famous singer (kirtaniya), with over 2 million followers on social media. Her parents are Vishvambhar Das & Vrindavanesvari dd. Her mother-in-law is Bir Mala devi, an early disciple of Srila Prabhupada. These angels guide her every day.