The Three Pure Land Sutras of the Buddha

"Between heaven and earth, the five realms are clearly distinguishable. They are vast and deep, extending boundlessly. In return for good or evil deeds, happiness or misery ensues. The result of one's karma must be borne by oneself alone and no one else can take one's place. This is the natural law. Misfortune follows evil deeds as their retribution, which is impossible to avoid."
The Three Pure Land Sutras, Larger Sutra, No. 39, Page 300, Paragraph 3, (Buddhism, Pure Land)