OUR BOARD
Humla Fund's board members and officers are a group of dedicated individuals interested in preserving the Bon culture in Humla, and in supporting the health and well-being of Humla's native people. They all donate their time and energy to the vision of this project. Their exemplary focus on service to others is the guiding inspiration for all of our operations.
Tempa Dukte Lama is the Co-founder and Vice President of Humla Fund. He is an ordained Tibetan Bon lama. Tempa Lama was born in the Humla Valley of Nepal, close to the Tibetan Border, into a family of Bon and Buddhist practitioners.
His grandfather was a village shaman priest called Drang Rig. Tempa Lama lived closely with his grandfather and often accompanied him on visits to sick and dying people. At the age of six, Tempa Lama entered Menri Monastery in Dolanji, India, where he was placed under the care of H.H. Lungtok Tenpai Nyima Rinpoche, the spiritual head of the Bon tradition. Tempa Lama was the first child to leave Humla to receive an education.
Tempa Lama followed his deep interest in traditional healing practices and spent a year in Humla researching traditional Bon healing practices of shamanism in his family lineage. Tempa Lama has been living and teaching in the US, as well as teaching in Canada, Mexico, and Europe.
Tempa Lama founded the non-profit organization Olmo Ling in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Timothy Aitken is the Secretary and Treasurer of Humla Fund. Tim is also the clinical director of the Humla Medical Service Trip.
He is a licensed and board-certified acupuncturist with over 20 years of experience practicing Classical Chinese Medicine.
He is on the core faculty at Tri-State College of Acupuncture in Manhattan. Tim founded Eight Branches Healing Arts in New York City, teaching and working with adults and children.