How does awareness factor in?

Hey folks. So I am curious about how awareness factors into meditation. When I sit down and really let go, I feel that I can actually lose all awareness. I can lose my senses and not know if I was awake or asleep or for how long. I hope this means I've transcended but I don't know.

Is there an amount of awareness or presence you bring to meditation beyond remembering to return to the mantra when you have strayed? Are you more or less present? I think for me, it's often the latter. I lose my sense of self rather than expand it. It makes me wonder if something is wrong, but no meditation instructions I have seen outside of Surya really talk about this at all.